Meet the Team Behind: RedRover

RedRover brings animals and their people out of crisis— providing emergency sheltering, financial assistance, disaster relief, and education to strengthen the human-animal bond and help pets and families stay together. Learn more here! 

Can you tell me about your programs?

We help animals in crisis and protect and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and education. The RedRover Relief program provides financial assistance and support to individuals and organizations in need. We also provide emergency sheltering, training, and consultations for animals displaced by natural disasters and communities facing other crises. Our reading program gives educators the tools they need to teach children empathy skills when it comes to animals. 

What is the Purple Leash Project?

In 2019, Purina and RedRover partnered to launch the Purple Leash Project to increase the number of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters nationwide and spread awareness about this vital issue. Statistics show an estimated one in three women and one in four men experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetimes – but currently only 19% of domestic violence shelters accept pets. The Purple Leash Project advocates for change and serves the needs of domestic violence survivors by awarding grants to help shelters become pet-friendly, increasing awareness, and offering volunteers, training, and resources to shelters. 

What kind of impact have you had on animals and individuals?

Since we started our work in 1987, we’ve disbursed over $9 million to support people and pets in need. We’ve had nearly 300 deployments to help animals in crisis and bring them to safety, and our educational programs have reached 1.7 million children in thousands of classrooms. Over 27,000 pets and their owners have been supported through our financial relief programs, and we have thousands of first responders ready to care for any animal in crisis. 

How can individuals get involved in your work? 

We offer volunteer opportunities to directly care for animals in crisis at a temporary emergency shelter and to prevent animal cruelty before it starts, leading to a kinder and more compassionate world for all. Educators can use our tools to teach students about compassion and empathy with animals. Donations help animals in immediate crisis and provide critical  support for those who love animals and have nowhere else to turn. With your help, we can strengthen the bond between people and pets and care for animals in need.