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The Haven Fights for Animals Who Can't
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| by LINDEN SPEAR, Up & Coming Weekly, December 15-21, 2004 |
December 15, 2004 |
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This last weekend, Friends for Life at The Haven volunteers found homes for over 50 spayed and neutered pets. What a wonderful way for us to launch our "Home for the Holidays" campaign as we approach our historic 10,000th adoption.
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The animals that find homes each week at our adoption events are transferred from local animal control agencies. The Haven's life saving program of transferring pets out of "kill" facilities gives county animal control agencies an alternative to euthanizing unadopted pets. This year the Haven will have saved the lives of over 1,500 homeless pets left to their fates at shelters that are forced to euthanize the unadopted.
We have also saved the lives of over 140 pets who lost their homes in the recent Florida hurricanes. This was accomplished through a partnership with the American Kennel Club of Florida, local business sponsorships, and devoted volunteers.
The Haven has also been the area's largest rescuer of animals displaced by deploying soldiers. We have taken in hundreds of these pets in recent years - providing hope for those left behind during this time of war. One recent deployment dog, Steeler, finally found a home after nearly three years at the shelter. The Haven, a no-kill shelter, allowed this animal to remain hopeful that he would someday have a home of his own. Each day this animal would watch and wait patiently for his day, and on Dec. 5 he finally found his home.
This year The Haven also took in over 700 pets abandoned in the streets. Most of these pets were sick or starving. Our most recent abandoned pet is Joe. Joe is a 5-month-old pit bull whom my husband found collapsed on the side of the road. Joe's appearance is a little unusual because someone cut off his ears with a pair of scissors to prepare him for a life as a fighting dog. His owners threw him away because he was too little and too gentle to fight. When we found him he weighed 12 lbs. instead of the 50 lbs. a healthy dog his age should weigh. Joe is recovering from appalling malnutrition and has won all of our hearts with his spirit and grace in the face of adversity and cruelty.
The Haven Friends for Life was able to accomplish this miracle and many others with the help of interagency partnerships and business supporters, especially PetsMart, Animal Hospital of Fayetteville, Rent-A-Wreck of Aberdeen/Pinehurst, generous donations, and committed volunteers. Last year, nearly 3,000 unwanted companion animals were rehomed.
Please continue to support this proven successful program by helping us to support and rehome area homeless pets through the "Home for the Holidays" campaign. Throughout the month of December we are holding a pet food drive each weekend at PetsMart in Fayetteville, as well as our usual pet adoptions. We are also asking for financial help to upgrade our shelter to meet new state regulations to ensure Friends for Life at The Haven will exist for many years to come.
Call the Haven and or check out our website at www.thehaven-nc.com for details about how you can help. God bless you all and happy holidays.
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©Up & Coming Magazine 2009
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Scott Resnick |
Dec, 15 2004 |
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Kudos to Friends for Life at The Haven for all they do. They do our community a huge service.
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