THE PET PRESS
SPRING 2021
VOLUNTEER Edition
A Quarterly Magazine for Rescue Animal Lovers | Compliments of SafeHaven Humane Society
Executive Director Focus Dear Friends, The first time I met Linda, I was greeted with a warm smile and a great big “hug” from her dog, Thunder, a Siberian Husky. Linda and Thunder were a volunteer team for Pet Therapy visits at the local nursing homes and I (a sophomore at Oregon State University) had just signed up to volunteer with them on their weekly visits. Linda and I (and Thunder) spent months together, visiting weekly with the residents and letting Thunder work his magic of bringing smiles to each person he met. I watched the joy that he brought each week, to residents and staff and Linda and I often joked that we wished we had the same welcoming that Thunder got each week. He made them laugh, licked their tears away when needed, and sat quietly with them in their final days. He just somehow knew what was needed from him by each person.
I realize now, looking back, how important this volunteer experience was for me on so many levels. Linda and I became fast friends. She introduced me to her love of dogs and her selfless heart taught me about looking for ways to brighten everyone's day. Thunder taught me to smile (he just wouldn’t let you have a bad day) and how important the human animal bond truly is. That was many years ago, but I still remember that first day of volunteering with Linda and Thunder. I still smile when I think of the happiness and joy that Linda and Thunder brought to this world. It’s the same feeling I get when I see each of you, SafeHaven friends and volunteers, walking shelter dogs, fostering animals, fundraising, or giving of yourself in some way to help the animals. You remind me each day how lucky I am to be part of this amazing journey with you. I truly believe Linda helped me find my passion and that Thunder stole my heart. When my husband and I got our first dog, we named him Thunder in honor of a very special dog whose “volunteering” brought joy to so many. For the animals,
Chris Storm Executive Director
Table of Contents Executive Director Focus.................. 1 Cover Story............................................. 3 Happy Tails............................................ 4 Events...................................................... 5 Pet Drawing Fundraiser................ . ...6 Development ................................... ... 7 2020 In Review................ ...................10 Community .........................................13
SATURDAY MARCH 27TH 10 AM - 2 PM 914 S. SECOND STREET LEBANON, OR STOP BY THE LEBANON GIFT & THRIFT TO FILL THE VAN WITH CANS!
SafeHaven will be on location with the SafeHaven van ready to accept cans and bottles to fundraise for the animals! There are so many ways to help the animals and we are looking forward to seeing you on this fun day!
SafeHaven Super Volunteers MEET KATHY SONDERMAN Our dedicated team of volunteers and foster parents are what make SafeHaven so special. Mahatma Ghandi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service to others." With so many opportunities to serve in our community, we value the volunteers who choose to work with us at SafeHaven, not only with the animals but also in our Gift & Thrift stores, with our Customer Care teams, in our medical department, with fostering animals in need, with events, and so much more. Each person in every role makes a powerful difference in the lives of our animals. We recently caught up with Kathy Sonderman, who has been volunteering with SafeHaven for over 10 years! She is dedicated to our pets, coming in at least once a week to socialize and work with the canines in the shelter but, also over time, has worked hard to help with events, kids' programs, training seminars and classes, and more. Her gentle and kind disposition is exactly what our dogs need and, needless to say, they all adore her. And Kathy's work hasn't stopped when she walks out the door. In October 2014, after the passing of her beloved dog, she adopted a shy Chihuahua mix, Stella. Kathy recalls, "I wasn't in the market to adopt again so soon but, with Stella on my lap at a Coastal Farm event one day, I leaned over to Katie (a SafeHaven employee) and said, "I'm going to adopt her." She sat with the decision over night and after what she recalled as a 'life-like dream' of her late pup, she felt like the permission had been given to move on and fall in love with a new dog. She adopted Stella the next day. But bringing Stella home was not a smooth transition. You see, Stella had come to SafeHaven on a transport from California and was incredibly shy and timid. She had already been returned to the shelter twice for only hiding under furniture in other homes which, as Kathy recalled, is exactly what she did in her home, as well. But Kathy was patient with Stella and after several months, Stella slowly began to trust.
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After 6 years with Stella, participating in multiple training classes at SafeHaven, a lot of love, treats, and confidence boosting, Stella has really come out of her shell and made huge strides! Kathy told us, "It was really hard at first. Really hard. Our instinct as humans sometimes is to push and rush these things, but Stella needed time and patience." Kathy is a shining example of what dedication looks like. And she is by far, not the only one dedicated like this to our animals and organization. When we say we couldn't do it without our volunteers, we truly mean it. Being a non-profit organization often leaves staffing and resources limited and knowing we can lean on loving and selfless volunteers is what keeps us going. It truly takes a village and we believe our village is the best! To learn more about volunteering in any capacity for SafeHaven, we encourage you to email our team at volunteer@safehavenhumane.com. We look forward to working with you! And THANK YOU to our team of incredible volunteers.
Happy Tails EMMI'S HAPPILY EVER AFTER We recently reached out to proud new parents of Emmi, the Dotter family. They adopted Emmi at the end of January and we were so happy to hear the update on the impact Emmi has had already. Here is what her new dad had to say: "I would like to express my gratitude to all staff at SafeHaven Humane Society for all their hard work and dedication. Since Emmi came to our family, there have been changes in our lives in a positive way. Emmi is such a great source of joy to my wife and I. She's very playful, friendly, full of energy and she seems well adjusted now with the new environment. We have a lot of fun with Emmi around. We are glad that we decided to adopt Emmi as part of our family. She makes us happy and amused with her cuteness and vibrant personality." -Kenneth Dotter
IT TAKES TWO Rita was brought to SafeHaven in November 2019 as a young cat when she was found living underneath a house. SafeHaven took her in, got her the care she needed and she was happily adopted last February. We recently heard an update from her adopters: "After bringing Rita home, we brought home another kitty in May, who was born in March. They are pretty much inseparable. And this picture of those two are when he was 3 months old. They run and play every day, and sleep next to each other. Lincoln, our gray kitty, loves boxes and sacks and anything he can get into. We named our SafeHaven alum, Stella, instead of Rita, and she loves food! We have to watch what she eats as she is VERY healthy now, if you know what I mean. We just love her, and are so happy that we were able to rescue her and I wanted to say thank you for the hospitality and how nice your staff was through the process." -Chris Hay
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Events COASTAL FARM & RANCH PRESENTS: FIXER
UPPER
After rescuing and finding homes for 1,937 shelter pets in 2020, we hope you’ll join us in making 2021 the biggest year yet of lives saved! How can you help? We’ll leave it to Gunnar here to shed some light on the details.
“Gunnar here! We have TWO grrrrreat events to look forward to! I won’t lay these puppy dog eyes on ya too much, but my friends at SafeHaven need PAWtner sponsors and auction items. And be sure to join us online in April to FETCH some great items to help my shelter friends!”
THIS VIRTUAL EVENT BEGINS APRIL 14th AT 12:00 PM
HOW YOU CAN HELP You can help SafeHaven with this exciting spring event by becoming a Supporting Sponsor as a business or individual OR donate an item to be auctioned off in April. This can be a basket of items, handmade art, services, and more. If you would like to get involved in any way, email Steph Lesire, our Events Coordinator, at steph@safehavenhumane.com to learn more!
AND DON’T MISS...
COMING THIS FALL Y’ALL! DATE AND LOCATION TBD. EXPECT A HYBRID EVENT! (VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON) Supporting sponsorship levels available. Live and silent auction items needed. For more information, contact Steph Lesire steph@safehavenhumane.com or Jim jims@safehavenhumane.com 5
Valentine's Day Pet Drawing Fundraiser
READY, SET, DRAW! On Friday, February 12th, SafeHaven hosted their first ever 'Draw Your Pet' fundraiser after getting inspired by other humane societies around the country doing the same. For a $15 donation, supporters from all over submitted a photo of their pet and SafeHaven had a team of volunteers and staff members standing by to create a drawing of their pet. There were iPads, colored pencils, pastels, and more to be used on this special artwork and as you can see, many unique styles were expressed. We're so happy to report that this fundraiser brought in over $2,000 for the animals waiting for homes at SafeHaven and the many more that will walk through the doors. Thanks to all who participated!
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Development PET FOOD PANTRY HELPS LOCAL FAMILIES At SafeHaven, we believe pets are family, and we don’t want our community members to worry about not being able to feed their furry family members. That is why we strive to provide resources for pet owners in Linn County, including but not limited to, our Pet Food Pantry. Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, from 9 am - 11 am, members of our community can come into our back parking lot where we have stored pet food to pick up what they need. Typically, about 20-25 households currently take advantage of this program and it is one that SafeHaven is proud to keep going, especially in these tumultuous times. We recently spoke with Jan Jones, a recipient of pet food from Pet Food Pantry about her experience and here is what she told us. "I first heard about Pet Food Pantry through the SafeHaven Gift & Thrift. Between old age, social security, and the pandemic, it has been a blessing for our fur family! I would shudder to think of the financial impact that it would be for me to not have the resource. I most likely would not be able to keep my pets. The experience with SafeHaven has been absolutely amazing. We have never felt degraded or shamed. Katie Bateman is sweet, helpful, caring, and loves my dogs! We look forward to seeing her twice a month. Thank you!"
Spenser Rathbun, Assistant Director of Operations cozies up with one of our shelter dogs
In case of emergency, SafeHaven also has food stored in their entrance to the lobby every day and is available for picking up during shelter hours, noon to 5 PM. This service was started last year at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to serve families that are experiencing an especially tough year. We will continue to provide this resource for as long as possible, alongside Pet Food Pantry twice a month. If you would like more information, please contact us by calling 541-928-2789 or email communityoutreach@safehavenhumane.com.
Jan Jones and her fur kids, Arrow and Malala
Development PLANNED GIVING: Become A Legacy Leader Generosity comes in many forms and it’s often the best way for you to support important causes that matter the most to you in your life. When you give to SafeHaven Humane Society, you make a lasting impact on the lives of local pets in need, as well as those around the nation that come to SafeHaven for a second chance when the rest of the world tells them 'No". A bequest is an easy way to make a charitable gift through your will. By recognizing SafeHaven in your will, trust, insurance policy, retirement account or by setting up an annuity, you can be certain that your legacy of love continues to support the care and treatment of homeless animals in our community.
Bequest: The simplest way to leave a substantial gift The simplest form of planned giving is a bequest made in a Will, where a supporter agrees to leave specific assets or a portion of their estate to SafeHaven pets. It is as simple as adding an amendment to your will stating, “I give ($ or %) of my estate to SafeHaven Humane Society of Tangent, OR.” This is the most common planned gift and it may provide your estate with valuable tax savings.
Life Insurance: A large gift with a small cost One of the best ways to make a significant contribution is to give a life insurance policy to SafeHaven. You may do this in a number of ways; give a policy you no longer need, take out a new policy, or name SafeHaven as a beneficiary on an existing policy.
GET STARTED If you are considering becoming a SafeHaven Legacy Leader, your attorney will ask for the following information:
Name: SafeHaven Humane Society Address: 32220 Old Hwy 34, Tangent, OR 97389 Phone Number: 541-928-2789 Tax ID Number: 93-0676661 We hope you’ll consider becoming a member of our Legacy Leaders program. In doing so, you become eligible to participate in our Friends for Life Program, which provides lifetime care for your pets if you predecease them. Additionally, we will be honored to list your name on our Legacy Leaders donor wall at the shelter (unless you wish to remain anonymous).
We would also be glad to discuss a planned gift with you without obligation by contacting: Chris Storm, Executive Director 541.926.2924 | chris@safehavenhumane.com
Kitten Season DID YOU KNOW? In 2020, SafeHaven took in 533 stray cats and kittens and 484 owner surrendered cats and kittens from the community. A total of 1,280 cats and kittens were cared for throughout 2020. SafeHaven is happy to have the privilege of saying "YES" to so many felines in need. But we don't do so without your help. Every year around this time, SafeHaven begins preparing for kitten season. Kitten season, known as feline breeding season, takes place during warm months (typically March through October, but varies across the country), and many shelters experience the bulk of their cat and kitten intake during this time. Due to the pandemic beginning last spring and the closures (and limited availability) of so many veterinary clinics, unfortunately, we are preparing for one of our busiest kitten seasons yet. If you are interested in fostering, donating, or helping with this busy time in any way, please feel free to email our team at fostercare@safehavenhumane.com. The saying "It takes a village" has never applied more! Thank you for your continued support through times like these and for allowing us to save so many lives and assist in finding their 'Happily Ever Afters'!
HOW YOU CAN HELP The best way to support SafeHaven through Kitten Season is by purchasing our most needed items to use here in the shelter and to send home with our team of dedicated foster parents. If you can help, here are a few of the most crucial items used for kittens:
Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR®)
Formula for bottle baby kittens who come to SafeHaven without a momma kitty
Heating Pads
Microwaveable or Electric
Nipple Syringes High Quality Cat and Kitten Food Kitchen Scales
2020 In Review
FINDING HOMES
1,937
ANIMALS GOT A SECOND CHANCE.
EDUCATING MINDS 414
CATS COUNT SPAY & NEUTER VOUCHERS DISTRIBUTED
27,050
POUNDS OF PET FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO HOMES IN NEED.
OPENING HEARTS 7,653
HOURS DONATED BY 509 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.
58,544
HOURS DONATED BY 133 LOVING FOSTER HOMES.
Wellness Clinic & Low Cost Spay/Neuter BIG NEWS We are so excited to announce TWO new programs at SafeHaven: a Pet Wellness Clinic and a Low Cost Spay & Neuter Surgery program. Beginning now and available for our whole community, you can call and schedule a pet wellness visit for your dog or cat and/ or a spay/neuter surgery for your cat or kitten. All of the information for these programs is included on our website: www.safehavenhumane.org. Pet Wellness Clinics will be hosted every Monday, except the third Monday of each month which is reserved for the low cost Spay/Neuter surgeries for the feline in your life. Our first low cost Spay/Neuter surgery day was held on Saturday, February 27th to celebrate World Spay Day! We look forward to continue serving our community in even more ways as we kick off these crucial programs.
THE BIG KICK OFF On Saturday, February 27th, we completed 23 spay and neuter surgeries! Our medical team was busy and in great spirits to be able to begin offering this service to the community. SafeHaven has been able to also schedule 203 surgeries into 2021 and is still scheduling appointments.
CALL TO SCHEDULE! To schedule an appointment, please call 541-928-2789. Beginning March 2021, appointments are being scheduled for the third Monday of each month. Please note that at this time, we are only able to accept cats and kittens for these appointments but hope to expand to puppies and dogs in the future. If you already have purchased a Cats Count Voucher from SafeHaven and have not used it yet, you will be able to redeem it at SafeHaven. Please alert us of this when you call to schedule.
Lead Veterinarian, Dr. Corriher, DVM (second from left) and her hardworking team
Happy Tails A TRU-MATCH Meet Truman, a four year old Belgian Malinois mix who really needed some extra love! He came to SafeHaven last August on a Furry Freight Shelter Transport. Right away, the shelter environment was extremely tough on Truman. New people coming and going at all times, loud noises from other dogs barking, and not having a specific person each day to help him in his routines – Truman just wasn’t able to thrive. At the end of 2020, SafeHaven implemented a foster care program called “New Year New Home” where individuals could reach out if they were willing to take a shelter animal into their home for the holidays. Luckily, Truman found an amazing foster parent through this program, and they were able to provide wonderful insight on his personality outside of the shelter. Truman’s foster parent said, “Truman is well trained, but does love his treats. He quickly warms up to people in a home environment and will be begging for attention once he knows he can trust you. He is very well potty trained, but has only liked to go in the backyard as he is scared of the cars driving by in the front. He doesn’t seem to like traditional toys unless he can tear it apart. He is a very smart dog and will look for ways to get out and explore. He moves quite quickly and can be a little nosy at times, but really is just looking for love. He loves his ears rubbed and will match your energy quite well unless it’s the morning and it’s all been stored up. He doesn’t bark very much at all unless it sounds like someone is trying to break in or he sees his own reflection. All in all, he is a very good boy if given love, treats and a routine." Just three days into 2021 and with this information in mind, Truman found a wonderful home! His foster parent was able to share many of Truman’s quirks and big personality which helped him shine when meeting new people.
Community SIP COFFEE. SAVE PUPS. RUB BELLIES. SafeHaven is now partnering with Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. to bring you happiness through your morning coffee, some PAW-some retail items, and from knowing you're rescuing SafeHaven pets! Simply use the link below to automatically receive 15% off your order and 10% of your purchase will come back to the pets at SafeHaven. It's a win-win! www.groundsandhoundscoffee.com/discount/SafehavenHS
REUNITED & IT FEELS SO GOOD SafeHaven recently received a plea to help Zodiac, a dog approaching the danger zone for euthanasia due to his time in a California shelter. Our Rescue Coordinator told them we wanted to help; however, our next transport was still weeks away. Zodiac was fortunate enough to go into foster care while waiting to come to Oregon and, while there, his foster family quickly fell in love. Still feeling it wasn’t the right time for another dog, they sent him on the transport to SafeHaven. Within an hour of his arrival, his foster emailed us that they were heartbroken without him and wondered if there was any way to get Zodiac back and adopt him. SafeHaven held him for a week so he could be neutered and recover, then helped to facilitate transport back to his waiting ‘forever family’. Zodiac clearly had his mind made up and, luckily, so did his new family!
SHOP TO SAVE LIVES Every little thing you do to help SafeHaven makes an impact. By shopping at Amazon Smile, you raised $441 last quarter! To date, AmazonSmile has donated a total of $4,313 to the animals at SafeHaven. Right now, a lot of us are doing extra online shopping to meet all of our needs. Shopping with Amazon Smile is easy! Just visit www.smile.amazon.com to do all of your online shopping and a percentage of your orders come back to save more animals while your purchase price stays the same! 13
Gift & Thrift LET’S TALK ABOUT SPRING CLEANING For some of us, spring is a long awaited time of the year where we can get our homes (and lives) in order. However, sometimes it’s something we hear and think is a good idea but, let’s be honest, may or may not do. One thing is for sure, if you participate in spring cleaning, you will find things around your home that you no longer need. That’s where we come in. SafeHaven will accept any gently used household items that you no longer want and use the proceeds to help animals in need! And while you’re at our Gift & Thrift store, take a look around and see if there is anything you can use to
spruce up your clean and organized home. There are many ways to tackle this seemingly monumental task, so we put together a few tips and tricks to help you get started with your spring cleaning: 1. DONATE UNWANTED ITEMS. Before you begin, make sure you set aside a box (or two or three) for the items you will donate. That way, as they come up, you already have a space to place those things. 2. START IN ONE ROOM. For some of us, the entire ‘cleaning’ could take days or weeks, but tackle one room or project at a time. Once you choose a room, start in one area and work your way around the space. For example, if you pick the kitchen as a first space, start with one area, like the pantry or under the sink. 3. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A FRESH COAT OF PAINT. Most of the time, a small cosmetic update can transform an entire space! Want a fresh look? Head on down to a home improvement store and grab a few cans of paint. After painting, head to our Gift & Thrift location to complete the transformation with some new decor! 4. MAKE IT FUN! Enlist the help of a friend or family member and crank some tunes. If you’d rather do it alone, this is the perfect time to also catch up on some Netflix. Use a tablet or your phone to play your favorite series in the background. You might not realize you’re actually working.
Our SafeHaven Gift & Thrift stores continued to be lifesavers in the chaos of 2020 and even with being closed for two months, brought in nearly as much for the animals as the prior year, which truly kept many things running. The Lebanon Gift & Thrift brought in $133,094.33 and the Tangent store made $148,929.73. With the consistent support of volunteers, donors, and shoppers, both Gift & Thrift stores continue to thrive as a source of income that directly supports the lifesaving work done at SafeHaven.
Both locations are an amazing way to save lives and find forever homes for animals at SafeHaven and are a fun way to seek new treasures to add to your life!
SafeHaven Humane Society P.O. Box 2018 Albany, OR 97321 Return Service Requested
Albany: (541) 924-5616 321 1st Ave E, Suite 3C Corvallis: (541) 757-1781 455 NW Tyler Ave
NonProfit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Albany, OR Permit No. 13
