University of Arizona Vet Students Bring Healing to Domestic Violence Survivors with Pets

Students from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine are teaming up with Purina, the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, and Sister José Women’s Center to provide free veterinary care to pets of domestic violence survivors and others in need.

Led by third-year student Stefanie Contreras, the effort brings the college’s 53-foot mobile surgical unit to community events, starting with the Footsteps for Healing walk at Reid Park on October 18. Survivors selected by Emerge and Sister José’s receive free wellness exams, vaccinations, and screenings for their pets, with supplies donated by Banfield Pet Hospital. Contreras expects to treat at least 100 animals during the event.

Later that day, students will participate in Oro Valley’s Bark at the Park at Steam Pump Ranch, offering games, activities, and educational booths alongside Purina’s “Courageous Together” statue, which honors domestic violence survivors and their pets.

This initiative, part of Purina’s Purple Leash Project, addresses a critical barrier for survivors: many delay leaving abusive situations because they cannot safely bring their pets. Since 2019, the program has supported 59 grants for shelters in 26 states, helping keep pets and their owners together during recovery.

Contreras, who also serves as president of the college’s Shelter Medicine Club, emphasized the broader impact: “As future veterinarians, we will have a role in preventing or identifying animal cruelty, or even suspected domestic violence. I want to be a part of changing how those animals are treated.”

The ADA-accessible mobile unit, launched in 2023, includes kennels, lab space, and a surgical suite, allowing students to gain hands-on shelter medicine experience while serving the community. Supervised by Dr. Alex Ramirez, the students provide care while learning practical skills that will guide their future careers in veterinary medicine and animal welfare.

For Contreras and her classmates, the project is about more than pet care, it’s about community building, empowerment, and supporting survivors. “We really want to form a strong relationship with Oro Valley,” she said. “Fostering a connection with our local community is very important.”