.jpg/:/rs=h:1000,cg:true,m)
A Keepsake Collection of People and Their Pets
The Pet Lovers Book Magazine is a beautifully crafted keepsake publication celebrating the bond between people and their pets
Get Your Daily Dose of News
Local News: Community Updates
Get the latest news and updates from your local pet community. From events and local stories to important announcements, we've got you covered. Stay connected with what's happening in your neighborhood and beyond, ensuring you never miss a beat.
🐾 Community Alert: Kissing Bugs & Pets
VIOLETS AWARENESS
Kissing bugs are active in Texas and can pose a serious risk to pets. These insects can carry a parasite linked to Chagas disease, which affects the heart and overall health of animals.
Protect your pets:
• Keep outdoor lights low at night
• Bring pet bedding indoors
• Clear brush, wood piles, and clutter
• Check porches, kennels, and outdoor areas
If you spot a kissing bug, avoid touching it.
Safely contain it and contact local animal control or an extension office for identification.
Local News Links
Become a Lifesaving, Pet‑Inclusive Shelter
Survivors shouldn’t have to choose between their safety and their pets. Join the international Purple Leash Project movement to create pet‑friendly spaces, access expert training, and qualify for grants that help you welcome families—two‑ and four‑legged—together.
Purple Leash Project grants up to $60,000 to DV shelters to build pet-friendly spaces. PLP grants are an extension of our Safe Housing grants, which we have distributed to shelters since 2012.
Their Safe Housing grants also help homeless shelters create pet-friendly programming and animal shelters create space for DV survivors' pets.
RedRover and Purina are the sole partners for the Purple Leash Project.
- Steps to position San Antonio organizations for future Purple Leash grant eligibility. Domestic Violence shelters can visit our Don't Forget the Pets (DFTP) website and sign up for our Housing People and Pets in Crisis workshop or take the workshop through the online learning portal. visit their Safe Housing page to learn more about eligibility.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 15,2026
PURE International Classy Ms. Lone Star State 2026 Launches Major Impact Initiative to Bring the Purple Leash Project to San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas — Melissa Rogers, newly crowned PURE International Classy Ms. Lone Star State 2026, has announced her official impact initiative: bringing community awareness to expanding the Purple Leash Project into the San Antonio region to increase access to pet‑inclusive domestic violence shelters and lifesaving resources for survivors and their animals.
As a respected community leader, senior association manager, and long‑time advocate for pet‑inclusive safety, Rogers is using her statewide platform to address a critical gap in survivor services.
Many individuals' fleeing domestic violence delays leaving dangerous situations because they fear being forced to abandon their pets. The Purple Leash Project, founded by RedRover and Purina, works to ensure survivors never have to make that choice.
A Mission Rooted in Compassion and Community Impact
“Survivors deserve safety — and so do their pets,” said Rogers. “My mission as Classy Ms. Lone Star State is to help San Antonio become a model city for pet‑inclusive domestic violence support.
No family should be separated in their moment of crisis.”
Rogers’ initiative focuses on:
- Supporting organizations in becoming eligible for Purple Leash Project grants
- Building partnerships with veterinarians, rescues, and community agencies
- Raising awareness through outreach, education, and The Pet Lovers Book Magazine
- Creating a San Antonio Pet‑Inclusive Safety Network to strengthen long‑term support
- local shelters completing the Housing People and Pets in Crisis training
A State Title with Purpose
The PURE International Pageant system emphasizes service, leadership, and meaningful community engagement. Rogers’ project embodies these values by addressing a real and urgent need in Texas.
Her work aims to increase the number of San Antonio shelters able to house pets onsite, provide emergency boarding options, and create trauma‑informed, sustainable programs that keep survivors and their animals together.
A Call to Action for Local Shelters and Community Partners
Domestic violence shelters, animal welfare organizations, and community agencies are encouraged to connect with Rogers’ initiative to learn how they can participate, receive training, and prepare for upcoming grant cycles.
Together, this movement will help transform San Antonio into a safer, more compassionate city for survivors and their pets.
Contact
Name: Melissa Rogers
Title: PURE International Classy Ms. Lone Star State 2026
Project: The San Antonio Jamin's Collar Initiative
Email: melissarogers85@yahoo.com