Paige DeSorbo, honored with Variety’s Courage Award for advocating for domestic violence survivors, said her cat Daphne helped her feel safe while healing and urged support for pet-friendly shelters so survivors do not have to choose between their safety and their pets.
The Purple Leash Project, which DeSorbo endorsed in her speech, is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to creating pet-friendly shelters for survivors of domestic abuse. She adopted Daphne in 2024.
DeSorbo said she was 19 when she experienced domestic violence and shared her story on her podcast, “Giggly Squad,” in 2024. She cited more than 12 million people experiencing domestic violence each year, including one in three women and one in four men, and said stigma can make survivors reluctant to speak out.
