NORTH BAY — A safe haven for victims of abuse and violence in North Bay is undergoing renovations to welcome pets, addressing a critical barrier that often prevents survivors from escaping dangerous situations.

Work is officially underway at the Crisis Centre North Bay’s Four Elms emergency shelter, which accommodates men, women, and children fleeing violence.

According to advocacy groups, the expansion addresses a devastating reality: half of all intimate partner violence survivors delay leaving abusive environments because they cannot take their pets with them.

"Pets are family. On a regular day, you want to be with your pet," said Maleeha Sheikh, corporate communications manager for Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada. "Now imagine somebody is going through one of the most traumatic experiences of their life, and they can’t take their pet with them."

To combat this, Women’s Shelters Canada and Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada launched the Purple Leash Project two years ago to provide shelters with vital funding for pet-friendly infrastructure. The initiative's name draws on symbolism: purple represents domestic violence awareness, while the leash honors the enduring bond between people and their pets.

"We were truly shocked and disturbed when we discovered that only a small fraction of domestic violence shelters supported by Women’s Shelters Canada were pet-friendly," Sheikh noted.

This year, the project is distributing $262,500 in funding to support 15 Canadian shelters across British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. While six shelters—including the Mattawa Women’s Resource Centre—will receive grants to maintain existing pet programs, nine facilities, including the Crisis Centre, are transitioning into pet-friendly spaces for the first time.

Anuradha Dugal, executive director of Women’s Shelters Canada in Ottawa, explained that the funding helps shelters build dedicated accommodations, purchase essential infrastructure like pet cages, and create safe environments for animals.

"Protecting the pet from harm as well as the family is an integral part of this program," Dugal said. "The more shelters that can accept pets, the safer those families will be in their entirety."

By March 2027, the Purple Leash Project will have supported 45 shelters nationwide. Last year alone, the initiative's funding safely housed more than 130 women and children, 25 families, and 80 pets.

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