News 6 phone bank raises $10K for Harbor House of Central Florida domestic violence shelter, kennel

Organization readies for annual Paws for Peace walk

The Paws for Peace Kennel opened in 2012. (Harbor House of Central Florida, Harbor House of Central Florida)

ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 teamed up with Harbor House of Central Florida to get results for domestic violence survivors and their pets.

On Thursday, News 6 hosted a Paws for Peace phone bank to benefit the shelter. News 6′s Erik Sandoval hosted the phone bank and is one of this year’s Ambassadors for the Paws for Peace Walk alongside Trooper Steve.

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In just a few hours, News 6 viewers helped raise $10,495 for the organization.

Since 2012, Harbor House has helped hundreds of pets escape dangerous domestic violence situations with their owners through a special kennel on the Harbor House campus. The on-site kennel provides shelter and care for all kinds of animals, and survivors are able to visit with their pets so both can begin the healing process and feel safe.

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As of 2024, 66% of households have a pet due to the pandemic. According to Harbor House, 65% of survivors delay leaving an abusive situation for fear their pets will be harmed or killed.

Harbor House is the only domestic violence organization in Central Florida to have an on-site kennel on its campus, one of only a handful of on-site kennels at domestic violence shelters in Florida.

Harbor House is hosting its 13th annual Paws for Peace Walk and 5K on Saturday, April 27, at Blue Jacket Park in Orlando to raise money for the kennel. To register for the walk, head to the Harbor House website.

If you or someone you know is in a domestic abuse situation, you can contact Harbor House of Central Florida at 407-886-2856. You can also call Florida’s domestic violence hotline at 800-500-1119.

If you’d still like to donate, you can make an online donation by clicking here.


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