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When Earl Became Calvin Klein

When Earl Became Calvin Klein

Jun 8, 2018 | Happy Tails, I Held Out For My Hero

“Earl is not handling the shelter environment well. He needs out very soon.”

This was the plea Granville County Shelter made on their Facebook page on behalf of a big kitty named Earl. SAFE Haven’s Shelter Director Sherri wanted so badly to help but SAFE Haven was full at the time. Earl would have to wait until one or a few of the cats got adopted.

This happens often since there are usually more cats than available space in shelters, especially during kitten season when kittens flood the shelters and get adopted quicker than adults. Fortunately for this big kitty space was freed up shortly after and Sherri was able to bring him back to SAFE Haven where he could begin the next chapter of his life!

Earl was clearly a fun character from his description on the Granville Shelter’s Facebook. “11 pounds of handsome! He’s laid back and ready to be your best buddy!” He was sweet but had a hard time adjusting to the chaotic shelter life. He would greatly benefit from the special care and patience from the SAFE Haven team to help calm his nerves.

Sherri and the other team members wanted to give him a fresh start, so they named him Calvin Klein to better match his handsome swagger. After just a few days, Calvin’s sweet and confident side began to shine as he grew more comfortable and calm with the people and other cats around him. He enjoys petting and playtime and is currently waiting for the next chapter in his life at his forever home!

When you adopt a cat from SAFE Haven you’re not only saving that cat’s life but you’re making room for another cat in need! If you’re interested in adopting Calvin or another one of our kitties, please visit our adoption page and complete an adoption application! Check to make sure Calvin is still available for adoption on our Meet the Cats page.

The Scratching Post: March / April 2018

The Scratching Post: March / April 2018

Apr 1, 2018 | News, The Scratching Post

Message from our President:

Welcome Friends!

I have so much good news to report to you, our wonderful supporters! Thanks to YOU, we have accomplished so much!

I’m happy to be able to begin my update by telling you that we passed a major milestone when we made our 9,000th adoption at the end of January!

Safe Haven for Cats Newsletter 2018-04

Click on the image above to read or download this issue of The Scratching Post (pdf format).

Take a look at the joyful photo inside as Diana and Gregg Zwilling of Wake Forest adopted Hummingbird and Golden Sands. Golden Sands was abandoned at the shelter in a carrier in September of 2017 and Hummingbird was found in a person’s yard as a stray. Even though the average length of stay in our shelter is 4 weeks, Golden Sands waited 17 weeks for Diana and Gregg…but it was worth it!

Volunteers and adopters alike are always interested in knowing where all the cats at SAFE Haven come from. They are all stray, abandoned, injured or orphaned, and here is the breakdown: Of the 872 cats in our shelter last year, 467 were strays found by members of our community, and 236 were transferred to SAFE Haven from the Granville, Franklin, Orange and Wake County Animal Shelters. Finally, 29 were abandoned here, while 44 came from hoarders and 96 came from immediate life-threatening situations.

Beyond serving our community by directly taking stray animals our neighbors have found, SAFE Haven is a friendly place to adopt a cat. Our philosophy is based on an open adoption process that is conversation based, non-confrontational and welcoming. Cats can go home the same day! There are no off-putting home visits! We enjoy hosting families with children! The hardest part for you will be picking your new friend from among the 50 or so we have ready every day!

January marked another significant achievement for SAFE Haven when the 25,000th cat was sterilized at the SAFE Care Spay / Neuter Clinic. The photo below is Ann Dean and Dr. Jennifer Bledsoe-Nix, owner of the Clinic.

The 25,000th cat was a male, feral cat from Ann and her husband’s feral colony in Dunn. At that location they have a shop and take care of 10 other cats who have also used the clinic. The sign on the cage says “I love my sterile feral. TNVR Saves Lives!” (TNVR = Trap/Neuter/Vaccinate/Return).

At the SAFE Care Clinic, every customer is treated with respect, regardless of whether or not they can pay the already low fee of $85. In fact 30% of the clinic customers receive these services for free or half price. This is thanks to our supportive donors and national leaders in the field of animal welfare such as The Petrie Foundation and PetSmart Charities.

And, we simply can’t say it enough: Our hundreds of dedicated and hard-working volunteers are the key to our success, along with a veterinary and shelter staff of ten. Their $200,000 of time donated to the cats each year goes a long way towards helping us keep our overhead expenses at 17.5%.

Be sure to read about our education programs, our Pet Food Pantry (the only pet pantry in Wake County), and our upcoming events including the largest one of the year…The Tuxedo Cat Ball…all inside this newsletter!

Congratulations to each one of you in the SAFE Haven family on these stellar accomplishments. They could not have happened without you!

With gratitude,

Pamela Miller
Founder & President

Read or download this issue of The Scratching Post here!

Pumpkin’s Rescue Story

Pumpkin’s Rescue Story

Jan 25, 2018 | Happy Tails, I Held Out For My Hero

Here at SAFE Haven we meet hundreds of cats and although there are many similarities with each of these kitty’s stories, we’re consistently blown away with their distinct personalities and resiliency. Pumpkin is no exception!

Pumpkin arrived at SAFE Haven in early December. She was very thin, covered in fleas, and had a severe upper respiratory infection that caused damage to her corneas. Upper respiratory infections are like severe colds and if left untreated can be serious and life threatening. The SAFE Care Clinic immediately went to work on getting her better, starting her on antibiotics and eye medications.

After just two weeks of treatment she made a full recovery from the infection and her wonderful kitten personality came to life! She was left with scars on her eyes that will likely stay with her for the rest of her life, but she doesn’t seem bothered by them at all! She’s quickly adapted to the love and attention from the staff and is returning that love with cuddles and little mews.

Pumpkin arrived as a sick kitten with little energy but is now full of spirit ready for her new home thanks to the hard work of staff and support from the community! You can help cats like Pumpkin by donating to SAFE Haven for Cats!

Puma, The Tiny Kitten With A BIG Personality

Puma, The Tiny Kitten With A BIG Personality

Jan 23, 2018 | Happy Tails, I Held Out For My Hero

Puma, The Tiny Kitten with a BIG Personality

On the evening of Christmas Day, our Shelter Director Sherri received a call from a rescuer who found a kitten under the hood of her car who needed a new loving home.

When the rescuer arrived, Sherri looked into the big carrier and found a little grey kitten, huddled in the back, huge eyes peeking out. When talking with the rescuer further, Sherri learned that the family was were driving the car when her son heard the kitten crying. They stopped on the side of the road, opened the hood, and saw the little one. The kitten immediately worked her way further down in the engine area. The rescuer said she wasn’t moving the car until she figured out where the kitten was! The rescuer found her in the wheel well, terrified. They safely retrieved the scared kitten and took it to SAFE Haven.

Once Sherri put the kitten into an enclosure in the shelter, the still frightened kitten ran to the back of the cage, hissing the whole time. When any staff person would go into her cage, they would hear a deep guttural growl (way bigger than the size of the kitten). She clearly thought she was a big, scary cat. And that’s when a cat named Puma was born! We had to give her a name that was as big as she thought she was! But over the next few days, Puma started to calm down. She got used to her human caretakers and knew they are just there to love her.

Puma is now in a foster home working on her social skills and getting lots of good food, so she can grow big and strong! She will be ready for adoption in a few weeks!

The Scratching Post: August 2017

The Scratching Post: August 2017

Aug 1, 2017 | News, The Scratching Post

Message from our Founder & President:

“Hope, is born of participation in hopeful solutions” – Marianne Williamson, Author

I have heard this quote a number of times recently and it has really stuck in my head because SAFE Haven for Cats has always been about hope.

Based on our life-saving results this past year, most of you believe in hope too!

Because of your involvement, SAFE Haven is leading our community with solutions for cat overpopulation and unnecessary euthanasia.

Safe Haven for Cats Scratching Post 2017-08 Cover

Click on the image above to read or download this issue of The Scratching Post (pdf format).

This past year:

Thanks to you, we achieved a 46% increase in the number of cats and kittens adopted. 825 stray, abandoned, injured or orphaned cats are alive and happily thriving in their homes.

Through the SAFE Care Spay / Neuter Clinic, 1,859 cats have been sterilized. Best of all, no one is ever turned away from the clinic because they don’t have enough money.

As a partner with 4 local County Animal Shelters, we responded when they were forced to start euthanizing for space. We took 236 cats from these shelters.

We supported 83 families (224 cats and 116 dogs) with food from the Pet Food Pantry (the only one in Wake County). These owners and pets have a much better quality of life because of you.

Through our TNVR assistance program for community cats we sterilized 388, loaned countless traps, and educated with hands-on contributions to many colony caretakers.

As you can see, there are many ways to participate with us in hopeful solutions. On the following pages you will read about actions you can take as a volunteer and advocate. You don’t have to have any special talents just a willingness to help.

With sincere appreciation for everything you do for the animals…

Sincere thanks,

Pamela Miller
Founder & President

Read or download this issue of The Scratching Post here!