Construction noises echoed throughout a Boulder domestic violence shelter late last week. Soon, those sounds will be replaced by meows, barks and the pitter-patter of pet feet on freshly refurbished floors. The shelter, run by the Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, is under renovation to become pet friendly. It’s part of a national movement among domestic violence shelters to accommodate animals as research shows many survivors wait longer to leave abusive situations if they can’t take their pets with them. Elise Korican, a volunteer with Greater Good Charities, paints a bedroom wall amidst renovations at Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence in Boulder, Colorado on July 12, 2024.