Students from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine are teaming up with Purina, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse and the Sister José Women's Center to offer free veterinary care for pets of community members experiencing domestic violence and other hardships.

Led by third-year student Stefanie Contreras, the initiative will bring the college's mobile surgical unit to the Footsteps for Healing community walk hosted by Emerge on Oct. 18 at Reid Park. Domestic violence survivors will receive free pet wellness exams, vaccinations and screenings. Those receiving care are chosen by Emerge and Sister José's, a Tucson-based nonprofit dedicated to assisting women experiencing homelessness. 

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Contreras expects to treat at least 100 pets at the event, using supplies donated by Banfield Pet Hospital.

Later that same day, the Wildcats will participate in Oro Valley's Bark in the Park at Steam Pump Ranch, offering animal-themed games, activities and information booths alongside Purina's "Courageous Together" statue honoring survivors and their pets.

Contreras is organizing the effort alongside fellow Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students Kayden Shotwell, Michaela Blackmore and Jordyn Purpura. Contreras also serves as the president of the college's Shelter Medicine Club, a student-run group that supplements classwork with extracurricular experiences treating shelter animals. 

When Contreras – who works as a Purina brand ambassador outside of her studies – learned that survivors of domestic abuse often choose between leaving a pet in danger or staying with an abuser to keep the animal safe, she desperately wanted to help. 

"As future veterinarians, we will have a role in preventing or identifying animal cruelty, or even suspected domestic violence," Contreras said. "I want to be a part of changing how those animals are treated, because few women's shelters accept animals, and those that do often require pets to be healthy and vaccinated."

Contreras' work began last October when she and her clubmates partnered with Sister José's to host a "Purple Leash Picnic" at Catalina State Park to raise awareness and offer free pet care to community members in need. The Purple Leash Project was created by Purina in partnership with the nonprofit organization RedRover to create more pet-friendly domestic violence shelters across the country.

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Since 2019, the initiative has funded 59 grants for shelters in 26 states, said Noa Hefer, brand marketing manager with Purina.

"Our mission is to help keep pets and people together, because we know pets are a critical part of the healing process," she said. "The Purple Leash Project helps break down one of the many barriers faced by survivors of abuse: One in three women and one in four men will suffer abuse in their lifetimes, and nearly half of survivors will delay leaving because they can't take their pets with them. We want a survivor's pet to help them to leave a terrible situation."

Hefer said Purina was so impressed with the Wildcats' work last year, that the organization held a challenge for all student ambassadors: develop unique Purple Leash Project activations for their local communities. Contreras and her classmates not only inspired the competition, but they won. 

Hefer said Purina was impressed by last year's efforts and the Wildcats' plans for this year – and knew they were up to the task.

"These students have really impressed us with their leadership, strategy and willingness to do a lot of hard work," Hefer said. "They're already in school with a lot of commitments, and putting together an event like this is a big undertaking. We really do appreciate the culture the college is building by allowing the students to do this type of work. That's really impressive and says a lot about the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine."

For this year's Purple Leash Project event, the college will utilize its 53-foot mobile surgical unit, which carries all the equipment and supplies necessary to perform free wellness exams, screenings, vaccinations and other proactive treatments for a variety of animals. Students will provide veterinary care under the supervision of Dr. Alex Ramirez, senior associate dean for academic progress and faculty affairs.

An integral part of the college's curriculum since its inception, the ADA-accessible facility made its first trip in the fall of 2023 and includes bays of kennels to hold animals, space for medical preparation, a lab for basic bloodwork and a surgical suite.

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The college will deliver its mobile unit to Reid Park for Emerge's "walk, roll and stroll" event, which aims to bring the Tucson community together "to center the survivors in our community," said Josué Romero, director of community engagement at Emerge.

"We want to center the survivors of all violence, including sexual assault, gun violence and any other violence that impacts our families," Romero said. "In order to bring about change and healing to the community, we have to address the root causes that allow violence to exist. At Footsteps for Healing, we want to bring the community together to show all survivors that there are people who will love and care for them."

While the morning offers first-hand experience in shelter medicine, the afternoon will provide students with the opportunity to engage with their local community.

"We really want to form a strong relationship with Oro Valley, because that is where our campus is located, and we are a relatively new school," Contreras said. "A lot of our students will stay in Arizona, and in Tucson specifically, so fostering a relationship with the local community is very important."

From pet care to community building, Contreras's work is just the beginning of a career dedicated to animal welfare. After she graduates, Contreras will work at the Pima Animal Care Clinic, where she can put her passion for shelter medicine into practice.