Lucy's Project

Lucy's Project Safe Families - Paws and All.

Lucy’s Project is an Australian charity that seeks to create systems change to improve the safety and wellbeing for human and animal victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Today we want to thank the team at RedRover and their President and CEO Katie Campbell for the incredible work they all ...
02/06/2026

Today we want to thank the team at RedRover and their President and CEO Katie Campbell for the incredible work they all do to support animals and people experiencing violence across the USA.

RedRover's programs include:
• Safe Escape grants that cover the cost of emergency boarding for animals so that they are cared for while their family members access a family violence refuge.
• Safe Housing grants for family violence refuges and animal shelters to support people and animals to stay together or to provide foster care or emergency boarding for animals until the family members can be safely reunited.
• Readers and Kind News to foster empathy and compassion in children through sharing stories about animals and their relationships with people.

Katie wrote a lovely article about our CEO Monique Dam’s visit to RedRover as part of her Churchill Fellowship here: https://redrover.org/2026/05/29/a-global-movement-to-keep-survivors-and-pets-safe/

RedRover also partners with Greater Good Charities to deliver the Don’t Forget the Pets Project which provides education, coaching and resources for family violence and homelessness shelters and animal welfare organisations all over the USA.

We’re excited to share more about the work of Greater Good Charities next week!

Thank you to the Winston Churchill Trust - AU for the chance to learn from organisations changing the lives of people and animals around the world.



Pasadena Humane was founded in 1903 and has been supporting people and animals for over 120 years! Their Helping Paws pr...
25/05/2026

Pasadena Humane was founded in 1903 and has been supporting people and animals for over 120 years!

Their Helping Paws program supports people to continue caring for their animals during times of need by providing free and low-cost food, supplies, vaccinations, microchipping, veterinary care and behaviour support. Keeping people and families together prevents animals from being surrendered, abandoned or rehomed.

Safety net programs like these are very helpful for people who are experiencing family violence whose access to finances may be controlled by the person using violence.

Pasadena Humane also provides crisis accommodation for animals. Since last year, it has cared for hundreds of animals impacted by the Los Angeles bushfires including a dog called Blade whose family home burnt down. The team cared for Blade for over a year until he was able to be reunited with his dad Dominic last month!

Research has shown that the family violence can increase during, and in the aftermath of, disasters such as bushfires so programs that enable people to find safety while their animals are cared for are essential.

Thank you to Laura Lampley, Chief Programs and Services Officer and Marcela Zaragoza, Community Resources Coordinator for meeting with our CEO Monique Dam and to Miguel Ruelas, Community Resources Manager for organising the visit.

Thank you to the Winston Churchill Trust - AU for the chance to learn from organisations changing the lives of people and animals around the world!




Today we’re celebrating Pet Refuge NZ! Our CEO visited their world-leading facility and met with Dame Julie Chapman - DN...
18/05/2026

Today we’re celebrating Pet Refuge NZ! Our CEO visited their world-leading facility and met with Dame Julie Chapman - DNZM ., the Founder and other wonderful members of the team. Pet Refuge NZ cares for animals who are experiencing or impacted by family violence across Aotearoa New Zealand until they can be safely reunited with their families.

Pet Refuge NZ will accept animals of all kinds! This includes small animals like guinea pigs and rabbits as well as larger animals like horses and sheep, in addition to dogs and cats. They have a dedicated space to keep small animals comfortable and partnerships with farms to ensure larger animals are well cared for. This ensures that women and children living in rural areas can access the supports they need to be safe without having to worry about their animals being neglected, harmed or killed.

The team works hard to ensure that every animal feels loved and a bespoke enrichment plan is created for each animal. There is a big focus on rehabilitation which is so important for animals who have been subjected to violence and who are experiencing trauma. Check out the pictures of the catio and enrichment boxes!

Sadly, many of the animals have injuries caused by a person using violence against them. Veterinary care is provided on-site to ensure the animals are healthy and well before being reunited with their families. Weekly photos or videos are provided to family members so that they know their animals are receiving the care they deserve.

Monique Dam's visit to Pet Refuge NZ was made possible through a Churchill Fellowship. Thank you to the Winston Churchill Trust - AU for the wonderful opportunity to learn about emerging practices for improving the safety and wellbeing of human and animal victim-survivors from our friends and colleagues in Aotearoa New Zealand!



Our CEO Monique Dam recently travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand and the USA as part of a Churchill Fellowship to investig...
11/05/2026

Our CEO Monique Dam recently travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand and the USA as part of a Churchill Fellowship to investigate initiatives to improve the safety of people and animals experiencing family violence. Over a series of posts, we’ll feature the people and organisations she met with and their work – a lot of which aligns with Lucy’s Project’s CARE pillars of Collaboration, Advocacy, Research and Education!

Today we’re spotlighting Professor Nik Taylor who is co-director of the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.

Nik’s research has highlighted the importance of the relationships between human and animal victim-survivors of violence, and the need to recognise that animals are victim-survivors of family violence in their own right. She has also emphasised that violence against animals is interlinked with violence against women in a patriarchal society.

As part of Monique’s visit, Nik organised a symposium on ‘Links between family violence and animal abuse: Learning from theory and practice’. The event included presentations from Nik and Monique as well as Erin Ellis-Roberts, Pet Refuge New Zealand and Jen Howard, Safe Pets, Safe Families Australia. Around 40 practitioners from a range of human and animal services participated in the gathering to share their insights.

Thank you to the Churchill Trust for the wonderful opportunity to learn about emerging practices for improving the safety and wellbeing of human and animal victim-survivors from our friends and colleagues in Aotearoa New Zealand!





University of Canterbury Pet Refuge NZ Safe Pets Safe Families - Keeping people & pets together Winston Churchill Trust - AU

Today is National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day.We recognise, remember and honour all the women, children and animal...
06/05/2026

Today is National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day.

We recognise, remember and honour all the women, children and animals who have been killed by people who use family violence.

Let’s continue to work together to prevent and end violence against all victim-survivors of family violence.

We can create a world where every person and animal is safe.

24/04/2026

Sometimes, despite having been in this cause for 13 years, I find myself thinking of things I've seen everyday in a completely new light. Yesterday I was reflecting on how historically, a woman's feelings, emotions, bonds and priorities have been trivialised, minimised and dismissed, in favour of what is considered 'logical' 'rational' and 'practical'. An almost paternalistic view of what a woman is allowed to prioritise in her life and experiences. Then I was thinking about how many women have been shamed about having a companion animal/animal in their care as a critical consideration in safety planning, having their disclosure of an animal bond dismissed. I wonder how many women learned to shut up and put up, because they were not taken seriously. The more we know now about the link between harm to animals and risk to human life, the more evidence we have for why safety planning for animals is critical to the wellbeing of humans experiencing violence but omg, women have been reporting this for decades. Is this just evidence yet again of the assumption that women are not entitled to access a full, joyful and emotionally bonded life because they are first and foremost to be of service and to not raise a fuss? It's just the zygote of an idea. I would love your feedback. Maybe I'm on the wrong track, but maybe this idea needs to be developed further....

Share your thoughts below in a comment or feel free to DM me.

Yours with a joy in the love and beauty of the world we live in,

Anna

24/04/2026

Kindness knows no borders. 🐾🌏 DontForgetThePets.org/upcoming-events

We were so honored to welcome Monique Dam from Lucy's Project all the way from Australia to a recent Don't Forget The Pets workshop!

As Monique shares, keeping people and pets safe requires a massive team effort. Along with Greater Good Charities, we are bringing together experts from domestic violence, homelessness, veterinary services, and animal welfare, we are creating a network of support that allows families to heal and recover together — without leaving their beloved pets behind.

We are excited to see these insights travel back to Australia to help practitioners and parliamentarians create safer, more animal-inclusive environments for everyone.

Want to join a workshop? Explore upcoming events: DontForgetThePets.org/upcoming-events

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