Orange County Awards Grant for First Kennel for Pets of Abused Women

Citizens of Orlando got a tragic reminder of the problem of domestic violence this past weekend, when 25-year-old José Antonio Maisonet-Maldonado killed two innocent women in a violent car crash as he ran from police who were trying to apprehend him for attacking and killing his girlfriend.

This tragic accident illuminates the fact that many women return to abusive relationships, as did Maisonet-Maldonado's girlfriend, Berlitz Alvelo. Since 2005, there were four domestic-violence incidents between Maisonet-Maldonado and Alvelo.

While no one can speculate as to why Alvelo returned to this abuser time and time again, one reason many women won't seek assistance is due to their family pets. Statistics show that battered women will leave their abusers seven to eight times before leaving permanently.

Additionally, "up to 75 percent of domestic violence victims report their batterers have threatened, harmed or killed their pets," according to Harbor House of Central Florida in a press release. And Harbor House of Central Florida reports on its website that 48 percent of domestic violence victims delay leaving their abuser because they do not have a safe place for their pets.

These statistics led Orange County Animal Services and Harbor House to create the first Pets and Women's Shelter (PAWS) in Central Florida.

Women seeking assistance for themselves and their children are often faced with leaving behind a pet, as current domestic violence shelters in Central Florida don't allow animals. For many, the knowledge that their beloved family dog, cat or other pet would be left in the hands of an abuser was too much to bear, and thus the battered woman would stay in the home.

To build the shelter, which is one of only 37 like it nationwide, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty and the Board of County Commissioners awarded Harbor House of Central Florida a $50,000 Trust Fund grant. The funds come from the Animal Services Trust Fund, operated with public donations toward protecting the citizens and animals of Orange County.

Citizens of Central Florida can also assist with funding the PAWS shelter. Public donations may be made online at the Harbor House of Central Florida website.

In addition to making personal donations, the public may also purchase Honor Your Pet Tiles that will be displayed on the walls of the kennel once built. For more information, visit Harbor House of Central Florida online.

In addition to building the shelter, the partnership between Harbor House and Animal Services will allow for a first-responder transport that will take animals directly to the shelter, where they'll be vaccinated and evaluated for any injuries. If animal abuse is suspected, Animal Services can quickly launch an investigation into cruelty.