*Alfie needed urgent treatment

For pets like *Alfie, family violence can mean going without the care they desperately need.

Despite usually loving his food, this young dog struggled to gain weight. When he came into Pet Refuge care, his condition was concerning — and then his health deteriorated further.

Alfie stopped wanting food, developed diarrhoea and needed veterinary attention. Blood tests revealed very low potassium levels which, if they continued to fall, could cause severe weakness and even paralysis.

He needed urgent veterinary attention.

For pets living in homes affected by family violence, access to essential care isn’t always within their family’s control. Financial abuse and controlling behaviour can restrict access to money for vet visits, food and other necessities — leaving loving families unable to get their pets the help they need.

At Pet Refuge, safety means caring for the whole pet. For Alfie, that meant getting the veterinary attention he needed, including examinations, blood tests, medication, specialist food and ongoing monitoring.

With the right care, Alfie could begin recovering while his family focused on their own journey to safety.

For pets affected by family violence, reaching safety can also mean finally getting access to care that had previously been out of reach. For Alfie, it meant his health needs could no longer be delayed — he could get the treatment, nourishment and support he needed to recover.