Tamron Hall, Purple Leash Project want more pet-friendly domestic violence shelters

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Former NBC Today Show anchor and talk show host Tamron Hall is teaming up with The Purple Leash Project to help fight domestic violence.

According to The Purple Leash Project, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some form of domestic abuse in their lifetime. And many victims delay leaving their abuser because they cannot take their pet with them to the shelter.

The Purple Leash Project reports, only about 10% of domestic violence shelters in the U.S. allow pets. This forces some domestic violence survivors to make a choice between leaving a pet behind or staying in an abusive situation to protect their pet. That’s why Hall says she is working with the project to help make at least 25% of American shelters able to take in domestic violence survivors and their pets by the year 2025.

“We can provide grants to shelters so that they can equip themselves to house pets,” said Hall. “That means pet play areas indoors and outdoors, all of those things to make sure the pets are comfortable and that the family member is comfortable in coming in for help.”

Hall says this effort is personal to her because she lost her sister to domestic violence in 2004.

“Over those years I tried to learn as much as possible on how to help people and how to reach out my hands to support organizations doing great work,” said Hall.

Tamron adds she is passionate about many causes, including domestic violence, homelessness and literacy.