7 year-old, Pebbles
New Zealand’s first shelter for pets affected by family violence is preparing to open its doors with the help of Dulux paint.
Pet Refuge provides temporary care for animals while their owners escape domestic abuse.
Pets from around the country are transported to the outskirts of Auckland where the shelter is being built.
Dulux had engaged their long-time colour ambassador and well-known designer, Evie Kemp, to create a mural inside their shelter.
As an animal lover, Kemp jumped at the chance, donating her time towards the charity, creating a mural that reflects all the animal’s Pet Refuge helps including, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses and cows.
“The concept focuses on what refuge is – a home and safety for all animals big and small. It’s fun, lively and positive with a little bit of humour, but will also make for a really striking and stylish feature. Being an animal lover it’s hard to imagine being forced to leave a pet behind for your own safety, it’s not a decision anyone should have to make. I’m so proud to have created this design and I can’t wait to put paint to a wall for this important charity that helps animals and by extension, their humans.” Kemp says.
Dulux has helped design the Pet Refuge shelter, donating all the paint needed for the large, purpose-designed build as well as sponsorship and technical support.
As colour experts, Dulux used colour designer, Catherine Huckerby, to develop a colour scheme for the shelter’s interior based on what colours cats, dogs and birds can see.
Research has shown dogs and cats can’t see red or green, similar to colour blindness in humans, however, dogs are able to see yellow and blue more clearly, while cats see more grey.
Birds can see the full spectrum and more.
The Dulux Colours of the New Zealand palette for the shelter have a split complementary colour combination of Dulux St Clair with Dulux Rotorua and Dulux Port Fitzroy feature walls.
Huckerby says Dulux Rotorua is optimistic, warm, energising and fun, while the Dulux Port Fitzroy evokes depth and stability, is restful, trusting and calming, “I have studied the psychology of colour in humans in-depth, but researching how animals see colour was new to me. It was fascinating to learn how they see the world and the impact colour has on their mood. The Pet Refuge is a space for healing and transformation, and I believe colour has an important role to play in achieving this.”
Kemp has adapted her mural design into A3 limited edition prints available in three colours.
Her prints can be purchased here with 100 per cent of the sale going directly to Pet Refuge to help its mission, removing a major barrier to pets and their families escaping domestic violence.
