In college, Maya Gupta studied the link between domestic violence and animal abuse.

"There are various studies and some have shown that up to 71 percent of women at domestic violence shelters said their abusers hurt or killed their pets," Gupta said. "And studies have found that up to 50 percent of victims would have left sooner if they'd had somewhere for their pets to go."

Ronda Churchwell / Special (ENLARGE)

Beasley is one of the bunnies that will be at Callenwolde March 22 for an Easter egg hunt and other events. The Georgia Chapter of the House Rabbit Society will be there with live bunnies to pet, including these two. They'll have information on how to properly care for bunnies and bunnies that are available for adoption.

PET TIP Got a cat? Then avoid lilies this holiday season. Eating even one leaf could harm your pet and even lead to kidney failure. RELATED • Need more info?: Check out our list of pet resources • More pet stories, blogs and photos

Those kinds of statistics led Gupta to join the Ahimsa House, a nonprofit group that helps care for the pets of domestic violence victims. The group makes arrangements to get endangered pets into a foster home or boarding, then pays for things like food and veterinary care.

The group was founded in 2004 by Emily Christie, a former abuse victim who lost her cat when she fled her home. But the need for the young group's services was so great that they were overwhelmed and had to close their shelter in the fall of 2006. A reorganization in 2007, along with help from Merial, the world-wide animal health company based out of Duluth, got them back on their feet.

"Merial donated $10,000 in 2007, which really got us back up and running," said Gupta, now president of the organization. "This year, in addition to the donation, they're also going to help us with vet care at the UGA vet school."

Kelle Straw, a spokeswoman for Merial, said they also will donate things like Frontline flea medications and Heartgard heartworm preventative to animals coming into the program.

"We thought this program was something that captures the human/animal bond, and we wanted to support that," Straw said.

Straw said her company will provide veterinarian care and supplies for the next four to five years to the group to help it grow.

"We underwrite the community clinic at UGA, so we've asked them to provide basic care to these animals," Straw said. "Anything beyond that, we'll handle on a case by case basis."

And it won't just be dog and cat care. Last fall the group took in a bird, Gupta said, and last month they took a horse into their program. Straw said Merial is making sure the horse has all the products it needs.

Gupta said as word is getting out, the calls to their crisis hotline have been picking up, and they know they will have to grow to meet the need.

"We know what we're serving out there now is just a small fraction of the need in Georgia," she said.

The group allots $400 and about 60 days of care for those who have gone into a shelter, gotten a restraining order against an abuser, or can show that they are trying to get out of an abusive relationship, Gupta said. They also have guidelines for people who want to include their pets in court protective orders.

"Awareness seems to be spreading that people who abuse an animal will also abuse people," said Gupta, who points to programs similar to theirs in 47 states.

While grants from companies help, Gupta said they still depend on the public for the bulk of their funding and also always need foster homes for the animals.

The next fund-raiser, a reception for anyone who pledges $1,000 to the group in 2008, is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at Glenridge Hall in Sandy Springs. It includes a tour of the house, dinner, wine and entertainment by popular Atlanta performer Libby Whittemore and her pianist, Robert Strickland.

For more information on the group, go to www.ahimsahouse.org or call 404-496-4038. For anyone in a crisis situation, the hotline number is 404-452-6248.

FurKids birthday bash. This no-kill cat shelter that has rescued more than 3,000 cats is celebrating its sixth birthday with a party at the Pavillion of Dunwoody, 5510 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The March 29 event runs from 7 to 11 p.m. and includes dinner, drinks, live entertainment and silent and live auctions. Money from the $50 tickets will go to expand the group's new spay/neuter clinic. For more information: furkids.org or call 770-613-0880.

Hip Hop for Hounds. If you've got the sounds — and a love of dogs — you could win $1,000 in a contest being staged by the Humane Society of the United States. The raps must talk about why we love our dogs and how dogfighting is wrong. Submissions must be made by March 31, and the winner will be picked by DMC and receive $1,000. There will also be a people's choice award worth a $500 score. For all the rules, go to www.humanesociety.org

/hiphopforhounds.

Pug dinner. Enjoy a complete dinner at Petite Auberge as well as a live auction of items such as salon services and pet portraits. The event benefits Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption. Tickets for the April 4 dinner are $40 and are available at www.rescuepug.com or call 770-887-9741. 7-10 p.m. The French restaurant, in Toco Hill, is at 2935 N. Druid Hills Road, Atlanta.

Yard sale items needed. Good Mews, a no-kill cat shelter in Marietta, is holding its annual flea market April 25-27 and May 3-4, and is looking for items to sell. If you have new or gently used items to donate, go to www.goodmews.org or call 770-499-2287 to schedule a time to drop off the items. Items also can be dropped off on Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. through April 13 at the location of the sale, the New London Shopping Center at 1461 Roswell Road, Marietta.