Research shows a majority of victims of family violence stay in dangerous situations for too long, fearing their animals will be harmed, neglected, or killed. Pets are often used by abusive individuals to exert control - to stop victims from leaving a violent home, or to force their return. The Pet Refuge, one of the first shelters of its kind in the world, looks after animals until survivors find a safe place to be reunited with their pets.

Refuge is a moving mosaic showing the busy, loving life at Pet Refuge threaded with survivor/victims' compelling first-person stories.

While the film addresses the persistent and pervasive problem of domestic violence in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the world, it also highlights our increasing awareness of the rights of animals - a recognition that they think, feel and suffer.

Pet Refuge is a living example of a ‘duty to care’, a small but significant active intervention that has real value in addressing a seemingly overwhelming problem.