The community once again came out in force to support Preble County domestic violence survivors, raising a record breaking $16,238 at Purple Paws: Preble Pets Against Domestic Violence.

The annual fundraiser and pet showcase, which was held Oct. 1, is the only fundraiser at  YWCA Dayton that exclusively support Preble County services. This includes the county's only domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, crisis hotline, and other housing and prevention services."This is huge for our Preble County services. All these funds will stay in Preble County, whether that is for shelter, outreach or housing," said Miranda Armstead, rural advocate with YWCA Dayton.The community support soared past last year's fundraising milestone of $13,320, which at the time was the record.Armstead said many thanks go toward the event sponsors and the dedicated volunteers who made Purple Paws possible. Additionally, this was the first year that Purple Paws was held in partnership with Downtown Eaton Inc.'s Fall Food Truck Fest & Craft Show, which boosted awareness and attendance.YWCA has operated the Preble County Domestic Violence shelter since 2004, making this year the organization's 18th year of serving Preble County.So far in 2022, YWCA has served 23 women and 17 children and provided more than 1,600 bed nights in shelter.In 2022, YWCA also celebrated the two-year anniversary of our transitional housing program in Preble County.It is a two-year transitional housing and supportive services program that helps survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault achieve permanent safety and stability as they move from emergency shelter to independent living. This year the transitional housing program has served seven women and seven children.

Want to support our rural services? Donate now.

Why Purple Paws? 

The pet-themed fundraiser also serves to highlight the strong links between domestic violence survivors and their pets.

• More than half of domestic violence victims in shelters leave their pets with their batterers
• Up to 48% of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers because they are too worried about what will happen to their pets when they leave
• 75% of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters report that their batterer had injured, threatened, or killed family pets for revenge or to psychologically control them.

But, YWCA Dayton can help. The nonprofit partners with local agencies who house the pets of the survivors while they reside in Preble's domestic violence shelter."We commonly see clients not wanting to come into shelter because they are afraid they will have to leave their animals behind. However, we have partnerships that can take pets and keep pets safe," Armstead said.Many clients are able to visit their pets regularly, helping them move through the healing process more quickly.Organizations like SICSA Pet Adoption Center, Montgomery County Humane Society, Tipp City Veterinary Hospital, and Town and Country Veterinary Clinic partner with us in empowering women and breaking the cycle of domestic abuse.

Still time to help

Did you miss Purple Paws? You can still donate online any time to help our Preble County services. Any amount helps.

• $1,000 ($83/month): Provides empowering clinical care to break the cycle of abuse.
• $600 ($50/month): Provides three weeks of child care for a mother in shelter
• $240 ($20/month): Provides two days of shelter
• $120 ($10/month): Provides one month of fresh, nutritious meals
• $60 ($5/month): Provides two hours of 24/7 crisis hotline operations