The 26th Annual LeeShore Center Radiothon saw over $12,000 raised today and said they likely won’t have a final tally until sometime next week.
Executive Director Cheri Smith said this is the first year they have designated a project during the radiothon.
Smith: “For the project is to put up a new outdoor animal kennel at our emergency shelter, what we have right now is currently just not meeting the needs that we have it’s open to the elements, it just needs to be redone and so people can contribute if they would like to contribute to that project they certainly can designate some of the funds that they are contributing to the agency towards that project.”
Smith said domestic violence and animal abuse often go hand in hand and doesn’t want victims to think they have to leave their pets.
Smith: “We certainly know too that animal abuse is one of those earliest signs of potential lethality for domestic violence later on, some research out there says that 71% to 85 % of women coming in to domestic violence shelters the victims are reporting that their abusers also abuse the pets, and of course that sends a huge message to the children and the victims.”
The radiothon is over however those interested can still donate to the Leeshore Center by calling 283-9479.