What Pet Refuge NZ does

Pet Refuge New Zealand Charitable Trust is a registered New Zealand charity (CC53408) founded in 2020 by Julie Chapman with a legacy gift from her late parents. It is the only national organization in New Zealand dedicated exclusively to providing free, temporary specialized shelter for pets whose families are escaping family violence. The service, branded Safe Beds for Pets™, is delivered through a purpose-built confidential shelter in greater Auckland supplemented by a nationwide transport service that collects and returns pets across the country, plus an on-site veterinary clinic. Approximately 90% of intake pets require veterinary treatment beyond initial health checks, and the average length of stay is four months, with 15-16 new bespoke enrichment and training plans created monthly to address trauma. Over 90% of pets are reunited with their families rather than rehomed.

The organization operates a hybrid go-to-market combining community-led referrals (Women's Refuge, Shine, NZ Police, hospitals, ECLIPSE Family Violence Services) with event-driven corporate partnerships (MARS, Elanco, Southern Cross Pet Insurance, Petstock Foundation, The Coffee Club, Dulux, Mazda, Soho Family Vineyards, Canopy Camping) starting at $25,000/year. Revenue is donor-funded across five streams: monthly recurring individual donations ($30/$60/$100 or custom), one-off donations, corporate partnerships, community fundraising (e.g., $100,000+ raised by 116 supporters last year), legacy/bequests, and goods-in-kind donations; services to families are free of charge and the charity is tax-deductible. Operational scale signals include 500+ pets saved since inception, 19% YoY growth in families seeking help, 79 safe beds in a recent month, and 24 transport trips, 17 vet visits, and 14 reunifications per month on average. Pet Refuge operates as a donor-funded nonprofit under a Board of Trustees (Chair Glenda Hughes, Managing Trustee Julie Chapman, Secretary Blair Edwards, Treasurer John Elstob, Trustee Andrew Higgott) with no parent company or institutional investors.

Name

Pet Refuge NZ

Legal name

Pet Refuge New Zealand Charitable Trust

Website

https://petrefuge.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pet Refuge NZ is a registered New Zealand charity, founded in 2020, that provides free temporary shelter, nationwide transport, veterinary care, and trauma-informed enrichment for pets of families escaping family violence, funded by individual donations, corporate partnerships, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare and Family Violence Support Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Climate-Controlled/Indoor Boarding Facility (HSANADAL)

Keywords

• Animal welfare charity
• Pet shelter services
• Family violence support
• Veterinary care services
• Nonprofit organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations - Monthly Recurring: Monthly donation program where supporters sign up for regular monthly gifts. Options include $30, $60, $100, or custom amounts. This provides predictable recurring revenue for the charity's operations.
2. Individual Donations - One-off: One-time donations from individual supporters, either through the website or bank transfer. Donors receive tax receipts for donations over $5 as a registered NZ charity.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships with businesses including MARS, Elanco, Southern Cross Pet Insurance, Petstock Foundation, and others. Partnerships begin at $25,000 per year and include various collaboration options.
4. Fundraising Events: Community fundraising activities where supporters organize events to raise funds. Last year 116 supporters raised over $100,000. 100% of funds raised go directly to providing safety and care for pets.
5. Legacy Gifts/Bequests: Gifts left in wills by supporters, including pecuniary bequests (specified sum), specified bequests (particular items), or residuary bequests (percentage of estate). Pet Refuge was founded with a legacy gift from founder Julie Chapman's late parents.
6. Goods Donations: Donations of physical goods including bedding, toys, pet equipment, and food. These help reduce operational costs while meeting pet care needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pet Refuge NZ provides free, temporary shelter and care for pets belonging to families escaping family violence in New Zealand. The charity operates a purpose-built shelter in Auckland with individual pet units, delivers nationwide transport for pet collection and reunification, provides on-site veterinary healthcare, and runs an enrichment and training program to support pet welfare and future placement. Services are accessed through referrals from partner agencies such as Women's Refuge and the NZ Police.

Product overview

Pet Refuge NZ operates as a single unified charitable service centered on the Safe Beds for Pets program, which provides temporary shelter and comprehensive care for pets of families escaping family violence. The core offering is complemented by a nationwide transport service, on-site veterinary healthcare, and bespoke enrichment and training programs. The organization accepts donations through monthly giving, one-off donations, goods donations, legacy bequests, and corporate partnerships. A referral partner network including Women's Refuge, NZ Police, and Shine connects families to the service. The organization does not offer a rehoming service or general pet rescue, focusing exclusively on pets affected by family violence. All services are provided at no cost to families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Beds for Pets: The main service program providing temporary care for pets of families escaping violence, including nationwide transport, shelter, veterinary care, enrichment and training, and family reunification services.

Products and services

• Safe Beds for Pets Free, temporary shelter for pets belonging to families escaping family violence in New Zealand. Pets are housed at the purpose-built Pet Refuge shelter in Auckland, with stays lasting as long as the family needs the support. Services are free to families and accessed primarily through referrals from partner agencies.
• Nationwide Transport Service Nationwide transport service that collects pets from families at risk and returns them upon reunification, covering all regions of New Zealand. Operated by trained volunteers to ensure safe and trauma-informed handling of pets.
• Veterinary Healthcare Veterinary healthcare provided on-site at Pet Refuge, including treatment and care for pets sheltered at the facility. One pet visited the vet ten times in a single stay, for example, demonstrating the comprehensive level of care available.
• Enrichment and Training Program Enrichment and training program for pets in Pet Refuge's care, designed to keep pets mentally and physically healthy during their stay and to prepare them for future rehoming when needed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 53% of domestic violence victims delay leaving to protect their pet
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Women's RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Refuge is a key referral partner, directing victims of family violence to Pet Refuge for pet shelter services. This partnership enables comprehensive support for families escaping abuse.
• ShinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic abuse helpline and support services partner that refers clients with pets to Pet Refuge for temporary shelter.
• Lindsay FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting Pet Refuge's mission to protect pets affected by family violence.
• NZ PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement referral partner that helps families escape violence and connects them with Pet Refuge services for pet safety.
• HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare referral partners that identify patients experiencing family violence who need pet shelter services while recovering.
• SVScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone partner; Director John Elstob serves as Trustee and Treasurer. SVS provides veterinary services and support for the shelter.
• Petstock FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone partner providing financial and product support for pets in care.
• MARSmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner; collaborated on IAMS pet food promotion raising $10,000 through supermarket sales.
• ElancomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner; created gift with purchase lick mat promotion providing 816 safe bed nights for pets.
• Southern Cross Pet InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner supporting pet welfare through corporate sponsorship.
• The Coffee ClubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that hosted Valentine's Day puppuccino promotion at pet-friendly stores, raising $30,000 over two years.
• DuluxmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreated pet-friendly color scheme educational series and promotion, raising $12,000 from sample pot sales.
• MazdasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial supporter providing transportation support for the organization.
• Mark VettesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal behaviourist collaborator on pet-friendly color scheme project; provides online training courses for families.
• Soho Family VineyardssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial supporter providing donations and promotional support.
• ECLIPSE Family Violence ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial supporter providing family violence expertise and referral support.
• Canopy CampingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDog-friendly glamping partner allowing customers to add $3 donation at checkout to support Pet Refuge.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RNZSPCA (Royal New Zealand SPCA): New Zealand's largest animal welfare organisation, operating shelters, inspectorate and advocacy. Overlaps with Pet Refuge on animal sheltering and welfare in NZ but does not specialise in the family-violence segment.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Large US animal welfare nonprofit with national sheltering, rescue and advocacy operations. Comparable nonprofit animal-welfare scale and donation-based model but generalist rather than DV-specific.
• Auckland SPCA: Regional NZ SPCA centre serving Auckland with shelter, rehoming, and veterinary services. Comparable as a nonprofit animal shelter operator in the same city but generalist rather than DV-focused.

Others

• Shine (Safer Homes in New Zealand Everyday): NZ domestic abuse helpline and advocacy service that refers clients with pets to Pet Refuge. Comparable as a DV-sector partner but a social-services-only organisation without pet-shelter capabilities.
• Women's Refuge New Zealand: National NZ family violence organisation and Pet Refuge's largest referral partner. Adjacent in mission (DV support) and operationally linked but does not shelter pets directly.

Direct peers

• RedRover: US-based nonprofit that runs the Safe Escape and Safe Housing programs providing temporary shelter and care for the pets of domestic violence survivors. Closest international model to Pet Refuge's Safe Beds for Pets programme.
• Purina Purple Leash Project: Pet food brand-funded initiative supporting domestic violence shelters that accept pets across the US. Shares the explicit DV-plus-pets mission and corporate-funded model that Pet Refuge operates with MARS/Elanco.

Emerging players

• HUHA (Helping You Help Animals): Wellington-based NZ animal rescue and sanctuary operating sheltering and community education. Comparable nonprofit animal-rescue model in NZ but focused on broader rescue/rehoming rather than the DV niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Petrefugenz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pet-refuge-nz
• Instagraminstagram.com/petrefugenz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pet Refuge NZ