James Smith-Williams, the defensive end for the Washington Commanders, has a soft spot for pets. But rather than just adopt and adore furry, four-legged friends like most animal lovers, he’s become an advocate for them in an unlikely — and inspiring — way. The 25-year-old NFL player has been raising awareness about the lack of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters for people fleeing abuse.
Dogs Experience Domestic Violence, Too
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which takes place in October, he’s joined forces with the Purple Leash Project, an initiative from nonprofit RedRover and pet food company Purina. The goal of this project is to make more domestic violence shelters a temporary home for pets as well as survivors of interpersonal violence.
“About half of the people who are in domestic violence situations delay leaving because of their pet. They have nowhere to go with their pet,” the pro footballer told TODAY. “Pets are family too.”
Research backs this up. A survey by the nonprofit Urban Resource Institute and the National Domestic Violence Hotline last year found that for as many as 97% of survivors, the well-being of their pets was crucial in their decision of whether or not to seek shelter. For 48% of respondents, leaving their pets behind in the abusive home was unthinkable. Given that over a third of respondents said their abuser had threatened to harm or kill their pet, it’s easy to understand why.
“Ensuring that people who have pets and who are in these situations have a place to go, I just think that is so important,” Smith-Williams said.
Walking the Walk
For Smith-Williams, this mission isn’t just talk – he’s walking the walk, quite literally.
On Dec. 4, he will wear customized cleats from Purina to represent the Purple Leash Project as part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats event. He’ll then donate the cleats to an auction to raise funds for the initiative.
“As a life-long pet lover, pet owner, and domestic violence advocate, I’m proud to represent the Purple Leash Project,” Smith-Williams said in a press release. “It’s an honor to use my platform on and off the field to draw attention to the critical importance that pets play in the lives of survivors as companions, healers, and four-legged members of the family – especially during times of crisis.”
What’s more, Smith-Williams personally built several abodes for pups at a domestic violence shelter that recently received a Purple Leash Project grant.
“It was a really fun day,” he told TODAY. “I got to play with some pups and build some doghouses.”
To learn more about how you can help the Purple Leash Project, visit Purina’s website here.
