RedRover receives grant from Adtalem Global Education Foundation

Adtalmen Global Education Foundation has partnered with RedRover—a national animal welfare nonprofit—and donated $91,380 to the organization to help develop outreach and national training programs to raise awareness of domestic violence within the veterinary community.

Domestic violence is prevalent with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experiencing it in their lifetimes¹ and studies show the connection between human and animal violence—“The Link”—it is probable that veterinary professionals encounter these victims. As many as 48% of women report a delay in leaving their abuser because they fear what their abusers will do to their pets in the absence.² Plus, 71% of women entering domestic violence shelters document their pet was threatened, abused or killed.³

Therefore, according to an organizational release,⁴ the Adtalmen Global Education Foundation grant will support "Don’t Forget Pets," RedRover and Greater Good Charities' collaborative project aiming to help domestic violence shelters create pet housing programs. The funding will advance the project's efforts by raising awareness of “The Link” and educating veterinary professionals on better identifying and responding to domestic violence cases at their practice while encouraging them to support community efforts.

“We are thrilled this Adtalem Foundation grant will allow us to reach more veterinary professionals. Through the Don’t Forget the Pets website, workshops, and forum, we’ll help veterinary staff better understand the issue and their role in how they can support people and pets in crisis within their communities,” Nicole Forsyth, president and CEO of RedRover, said in the release.⁴

Through this partnership, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine alumni will have the opportunity to participate in a pilot training program which will then become available to more veterinary professionals.

“At Adtalem and across our institutions, including Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, we are committed to making a lasting impact on the communities in which we live and serve,” said Sean Callanan, MVB, CertVR, MRCVS, PhD, FRCPath, DiplECVP, dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. “Awareness is the first step in providing solutions to pressing issues that impact the health of our global communities, and education and training are foundational to change.

"At Ross Vet, we put the One Health ideology into practice through our curriculum, research, and in the St. Kitts community we call home. We believe in the interconnection between humans, animals, and our shared global ecosystem and are thrilled to partner with RedRover on this critical endeavor," he added.

References

1. Black M, Basile KC, Breiding MJ, et al. National intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010 summary report. National Center for Injury Prevention and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2011. Accessed January 19, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf
2. Carlisle-Frank P, Flanagan T. Silent victims: Recognizing and stopping abuse of the family pet. Lanham: University Press of America; 2006.
3. Ascione FR, Weber CV, Wood DS. The abuse of animals and domestic violence: A national survey of shelters for women who are battered. Soc Anim. 1997;5(3):205-218. doi: 10.1163/156853097X00132
4. Adtalem Global Education Foundation awards RedRover grant to help domestic violence survivors and their pets. News release. Adtalem Global Education Foundation. January 18, 2022. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.adtalem.com/newsroom/press-releases/adtalem-global-education-foundation-awards-redrover-grant-to-help-domestic-violence-survivors-and-their-pets