Animal Welfare Advocate and Realtor Jon Scott Santy Provides Support for Animal Safehouse Pet Shelter

PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets who, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations. While there are shelters for women and children, few have facilities for their pets.

Most people with pets will not leave abusive homes if they cannot bring their furry loved ones along in fear of retaliation.

Animal Safehouse works with the Domestic Violence Task Force and domestic violence shelters in Brevard, including Salvation Army, The Women’s Center and Serene Harbor, as well as the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to connect victims to their services.

Brevard Conty Realtor Jon Scott Santy, Broker/Manager at Florida East Coast Real Estate, has been a strong animal welfare advocate for more than 25 years.

When he learned about the Animal Safehouse of Brevard, he was immediately behind the organization’s mission.

“We think about the impacts of domestic violence on children but how often do we think about the impact on pets?” asked Santy.

“If you think about someone being in a situation where they’re the victim of domestic violence, they may be hesitant to leave the abusive situation for fear of something happening to their beloved pet.

“Just recently in Brevard County we had a horrific case of animal cruelty where a women killed her spouse’s dog and it sickened me. I learned about Dr. Leandra Preston’s mission with the Animal Safehouse of Brevard, I knew I could help at least financially, if not by offering to be a future foster, which I did.

“I had an upcoming closing for 545 Garfield Avenue, #905, in Cocoa Beach at Las Palmas and I asked my sellers Jerry and Gwen Birck if they would be agreeable to me sharing $500 of my commission with Animal Safehouse of Brevard.

“The Bircks, dog lovers themselves whole heartedly agreed. The buyer, Kristen Metropoulas also thought it was a great cause to receive the funds and held a check to Animal Safehouse during the closing. It was a great feeling to have both my buyer for the condo and the seller supportive of the effort,” said Santy.

Animal Safehouse of Brevard is one of several charities that Florida East Coast Real Estate regularly contributes.

“Our entire brokerage is committed to helping local charities and organizations including the SPCA of Brevard County, our local Toys For Tots chapter in Brevard County and The Jimmy ‘Fins’ Schick Fighting For The Cause organization just to name a few,” said Lynnette Hendricks, Broker/Owner of Florida East Coast Real Estate.

“I’m very proud of our agents and their commitment to our local communities.”

Santy said we can all make a big difference in the communities we serve.

“I would challenge all of my Realtor colleagues in Brevard County to support our local organizations by donating just a small percentage of our commission earnings to our non-profit causes,” adds Santy.

To learn more about Animal Safehouse of Brevard visit AnimalSafehouserevard.org or call Jon Scott Santy at Florida East Coast Real Estate at 321-482-8337.

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