THE PET PRESS SUMMER 2020
ADVOCATING
FOR THE
A longtime volunteer and his rescue dogs on PAGE 3
COVID-19 UPDATES ON PAGE 11
A Quarterly Magazine for Rescue Animal Lovers | Compliments of SafeHaven Humane Society
Executive Director Focus Dear Friends, The last few months have been unlike anything that I (and probably most of you) could have ever imagined or experienced. Who would have predicted it? A health pandemic so severe, it brought our entire community, our entire world, and SafeHaven to a screeching halt. Animals and the community still needed us, but we had to find new ways of doing things and we had to find them fast. The days were long and exhausting. In my 19 years of leadership at SafeHaven, I had never prepared or planned for something like this. Everything moved so quickly and each day brought new information and additional changes to protocols. It truly was hard to keep up. I had to do my best to focus on our mission, on our future, and on the animals that needed us most, but at the same time everything was shutting down. Our Gift and Thrift Stores closed and we asked all of our wonderful volunteers to stay home and safe. We were mandated to stop all spay and neuter surgeries on our shelter pets and asked to adopt them out unspayed and neutered—WHAT? That regulation alone took a while to sink in. We called on the community to foster many of our pets that were currently in the shelter just in case our staff became ill and needed to stay home. Life saving transports were
stopped. The pictures of those animals still haunt me. We had already said “yes” to them. We had promised them a second chance and suddenly, I had no control over saving their lives. Essentially, SafeHaven locked the doors and the shelter became quiet. My heart broke as staff members were laid off, fundraising and community outreach events were cancelled, and our future (and the future of so many animals) became more uncertain by the day. What we all know as normal has changed and that is frightening for many of us. What I never take for granted though is that SafeHaven has always been the “little shelter that could” and that has not changed in the midst of this crisis. We have withstood adversity and trying times before and we have always come out stronger for it---I believe in us with all my heart. The uncertainty will be with all of us for the foreseeable future, but daily life in an animal shelter teaches us to always expect the unexpected. No two days are ever the same. We need to be tough, embrace change, and continue to save lives. Our mission hasn’t stopped! SafeHaven and the animals will need your help now more than ever. We will be here for you, our community, donors, and friends, and we will be here for the animals that need us most. Stay safe and healthy and I hope to see you again soon!
Chris Storm Executive Director
Table of Contents
The Pet Press is a free quarterly magazine published by SafeHaven Humane Society in Tangent, Oregon.
Executive Director Focus.................. 1
We are a private 501c3 organization.
Cover Story............................................. 3
We are not affiliated with any other humane organizations and we do not receive any government funding or tax dollars.
Happy Tails............................................ 4 Events...................................................... 5
TAX ID NUMBER: 93-0676661
Fundraising with Facebook ........ . ...6
Phone: 541-928-2789
Kitten Season ................................... ... 7
Fax: 541-928-5939
SHELTER HOURS
Tuesday - Friday, noon to 6 pm Saturday - Monday, noon to 5 pm
COVID-19 Update ......... . ...................11 MORE Happy Tails ......... . .................13
My name is Buddah and I arrived at SafeHaven in January on a life saving START transport from California. I love going for long walks and playing with my people. I’m super motivated with treats and toys. Tennis balls are my favorite to fetch, but I also like to chew on them until they are no longer round - toys made for tough chewers may be better suited for me. I may be 9 years old, but my energy and excitement level would fool you. The training staff at SafeHaven have been spending time with me and helping me learn to control my excitement and use my energy for good. While I am still learning it may be best for me to go into a home that has older children and someone who will focus on working with me without the distraction of other animals. Call SafeHaven to schedule an appointment to meet me, if you think I would be a good addition to your family. I would love to meet you!
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Advocating for the Underdog to volunteer at the shelter because it’s so rewarding,” said Keith. And you may be asking yourself, how many dogs has Keith taken home? Some of Keith’s rescue dogs appear on the cover of this issue, including Romeo, adopted from SafeHaven in October 2019 who came to Oregon on a Fetch Fido a Flight transport from a high kill shelter in Oklahoma.
Keith Kendrick first became involved with SafeHaven 12 years ago when we were still on Highway 34 at the old shelter. He told us he remembers a sliding glass door that needed fixing. He fixed it and never looked back. Shortly after that, Keith became a volunteer and began working with the animals. As a Registered Nurse, he had been involved in helping others for more than four decades, so combining this with his love for dogs, becoming a volunteer was just a natural progression for him. Keith also shared with us, “I’m a Pit Bull advocate because I’m often for the so-called ‘underdog,’ and Pitties have been treated so unfairly for a long time by bad owners and the press, which has led to an unjust stigma about them. I don’t say Pitties are the best dog, I say they are like all dogs in that each has a unique personality and you can’t judge one dog based on what’s been in the news.” Before COVID-19 and the unfortunate stop to allowing volunteers to be at SafeHaven, Keith was a very familiar face in the halls of the shelter. He is a bright light when he is here and always has a smile on his face. He proclaimed that he is “crazy about dogs” and enjoys providing them with human interaction and warmth. “It gives me so much happiness to work with a dog and help it do better at the shelter and then have it get adopted.” “Sometimes I tell people that I volunteer at the shelter and a common reply is something like, ‘Oh that’s so good of you.’ In return, I often tell them that I think I actually get a lot more out of volunteering with the dogs than the dogs do. I do encourage people 3
“There is also Peaches, who was adopted after being found on the streets of Eugene. I used the pink tutu to soften her Pit Bull image and bring smiles to lots of people’s faces. Sadly, she has now passed on.” He also has Dinga, adopted from SafeHaven about 11 years ago, not long after he started volunteering. “After extensive research, I’ve found that she most resembles a ‘coated’ Xoloitzcuintli (AKA a coated version of the Mexican hairless dog).” Dinga and Romeo are great friends, as you can see on the cover in the photo on the lower right corner. Thank you, Keith, for 12+ years of dedication!
Happy Tails SLAM DUNK FOR Dunkin came to SafeHaven all the way from California on a lifesaving START transport back in December 2019. He was such a unique looking boy and handsome, too. However, Dunkin did not find his forever home until 95 days later. He did not know it at the time, but Dunkin was truly waiting for his perfect match! His new mom, Jean Hamilton, has reached out to us and told us how well he is doing and how much she loves having him. We think the feeling is mutual. Here is what she had to say: “I came back from our Arizona house in March to attend meetings that got cancelled because of the virus and I could not get back to Arizona. I had been following Dunkin’s story on the SafeHaven website since January so I talked to the staff and volunteers and on St. Patrick’s Day, Dunkin came home with me. It’s just been the two of us since then, but we have had a blast! What a joy to have such a sweet, smart pup to spend time with. We walk, play games, watch Netflix together and he sleeps on my feet while I work. I am so glad he waited for me! Thank you SafeHaven for rescuing this fabulous dog!”
“Kodiac has been renamed Mewto and he’s doing great. His adoption paperwork said he was 1, but the vet thinks he’s closer to 4 or 5. Either way, he’s perfect and we love him!” -Anabel Manzo
“My son wanted his very own cat, so we adopted Soleil (formerly Anala, but also being called Puff) a couple weeks ago and she’s been an amazing little addition to our family. She’s the sweetest little kitty and is winning over everyone, including our other cat, Luna.” -Danielle Vaughn 4
Your Fundraising MATCHED
MATCH YOUR MONEY
THEN WHAT?
WE HAVE A MATCH! Hurry now to join us for Paws in the Park for your fundraising efforts to be instantly matched dollar for dollar! An anonymous donor has generously agreed to match every dollar raised, up to $25,000. Read more to learn how to take advantage of this incredibly special opportunity.
From now until June 20th, while you are raising funds, we encourage you to get outside with your pets and family and walk or run as much as you can. As we know, both exercise and animals help to reduce stress and we could all use that now. Or simply raise funds from the comfort of your home. Post your walks and runs on social media and use the hashtag #SHHSPAWS2020 so we can see the fun and also be entered into a giveaway for some great prizes!
JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT Create your fundraising page through our website and share it with your friends and family. Register for our virtual Paws in the Park as an individual or create a team. From there, you will be able to share on social media, email your page to your loved ones, and even text them a link to help you raise funds! Remind them why you are raising money for the animals in our shelter currently and the ones who will find a safe space at SafeHaven through the rest of the year. If you have a SafeHaven alum, raise money in their honor and be sure to tell their story!
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SUPPORT FROM THE SIDELINES If creating a fundraising page isn’t for you, consider making a one-time donation to support this fundraising event and ensure that SafeHaven remains able to continue operations and to be a safe destination for those who need us most. Before COVID-19, we set a goal to raise $50,000 for homeless pets through this event. With your help, we hope to still achieve this goal to enable us to keep our doors open to homeless pets in new ways that ensure everyone’s safety.
Staying Connected No more Bow Wow Bingo? No more classroom visits or Spring Break Camps? So many opportunities to see our supporters in person has been taken away from us in the last couple months. We absolutely love meeting members of the SafeHaven team and staying connected to the stories that tie us all together.
So we made a plan! In April, we took Buddah to help deliver flowers to a few of our supporters and had so much fun! In May, we ‘popped in’ on a few more friends and brought them a tasty snack. Social distancing has distanced us more than we’d like, but we want you all to know we are still working hard to save lives and are missing all of YOU!
WIN PRIZES, SAVE ANIMALS ON FACEBOOK With so many fundraisers and ongoing events cancelled due to COVID-19, the SafeHaven team has gotten creative with bringing fun ways to raise money to the comfort of your home! Our raffles on Facebook have been so fun and since April 24th, have brought $4,410 to the animals at SafeHaven! We’ve decided to continue these raffles, featuring a new, fun basket every Friday on our Facebook page. To enter to win one of these baskets, all you have to do is find the raffle and donate at least $5! Every $5 donation automatically enters you to win! Then, at the end of each weekend, we will announce the winner. All proceeds go directly to our animals at SafeHaven!
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A Note on Separation Anxiety You could say that physical distancing and staying home may be one of the most challenging times of our lives, but you know who is having the best time of their life? DOGS! Their favorite person is home all day to love them, to talk to them, to pet them, to take them on fun walks, and let’s be real...give them all the treats! We love our dogs and, boy, do they love us. But what happens once we head back to work and we are all spending less time at home? Some dogs may be alright with the quiet life, but many dogs are going to experience some sudden separation anxiety. What does separation anxiety look like for dogs? It can be displayed in many forms: • • • • •
Destructive chewing Barking and howling Urination in the home Escaping Pacing
Best way to help our furry friends transition back to a normal routine? Take it slow. Here are some ideas: • Ease back into your routine. Start by leaving your house at the time you would usually leave for work. Come back a couple of hours later. On the next day, do the same, but push it out another hour. Dogs say, “Leave the cold turkey for sandwiches!” • Keep calm and carry on. Our four legged friends can pick up on our emotions. If you remain calm about the situation, then most likely, Scruffy will too. • Physical distancing from your dog. Encourage and promote him to be on his own. Get him a tasty treat (a nice bone from the meat counter at the store) and let him have at it by himself in the backyard.
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• Step up your walking game! Before you leave for work, set aside some time to get her out for a really great walk! Or go in the backyard and throw her that ball until she stops bringing it back to you. This will allow her to burn some of that energy off and she will be able to relax better while you’re away, working hard so she can have a better life! • Bring out the Kongs! Get your puppers some enrichment toys to keep their minds busy while you are away! Chew toys, like stuffed Kongs, are a great way to maintain distractions for them. Mom who? Together we can make it! Continue to show your best friend how much you love them and remember to praise and reward their good behavior. On another note...the cats are counting down the days to have the place back to themselves.
‘Paws’ to Meet Silvester & Snowball
MALE • 12 YEARS OLD • AT SAFEHAVEN SINCE 2/23/20 Well hello there, I’m Silvester! My purrfect day would start with a quiet morning spent reading the newspaper while enjoying a nice cup of coffee, listening to the early morning birds sing. I would take my time breakfasting followed by a nice nap. After that nap, perhaps another! Watch some day time television; that Judge Judy is quite the character! Maybe watch some news, listen to the radio, and by golly have another nice nap. After a satisfying supper, I would read a great novel until my eyes slowly close, ahhh bliss. Best part of this purrfect day? It’s spent with you, of course! I enjoy the company of other adult cats, as well as adult people. Young ones, both human and feline, are not my cup of tea. Call the shelter today to make an appointment to meet me!
FEMALE • 10 YEARS OLD • AT SAFEHAVEN SINCE 2/6/20 My pet name is Snowball. You couldn’t possibly pronounce my real name, so Snowball will suffice. While I’ve been getting an adequate amount of quality ME TIME here at SafeHaven, I’m quite ready to go home. I would thrive in a quiet home environment preferably with adults only. Besides thoroughly enjoying a relaxing slumber in my fluffy cat hut, I also enjoy a nice proper scratch on my head and I’ve been known to indulge in treats, I do love treats. I enjoy company and good conversation, however, I find your use of a baby voice rather off-putting. I am a mature cat... please speak to me as such. Please give the staff a ring to make an appointment to converse with me; I believe we will get along swimmingly. Call the shelter today to make an appointment to meet me!
Now is the time each year that we are preparing for our largest event of the year, RESCUE ROUNDUP. We look forward to planning what this event looks like this year, with all the changes in our world, and will be getting information out to our supporters as soon as we can. Currently, we are accepting donations of auction items, including baskets. If you are interested in making a donation, please reach out to Steph at 541-926-2924 or email steph@safehavenhumane.com.
All About Kittens KITTEN SEASON IS HERE! Every year between March and October, we see hundreds of kittens come through our doors. If you find kittens, we want to help guide you towards knowing what to do. First, evaluate how old they might be. If they are older than 8 weeks, call SafeHaven. We will find them a great home! Are the kittens younger than 8 weeks?
Wait and watch for mom. She may be gone looking for food or even hiding, waiting for you to leave. A mother won’t reject her kittens if she smells people on them. When finding kittens, look for these clues to determine if they are truly abandoned by mom. Kittens in need of help: Wet, too cold or too hot, located in a high traffic area, not moving Unsure? If the kittens are in a safe place, sprinkle a circle of baking powder around the nest of kittens. If there is a break in the circle when you return, mom is still taking care of them. Don’t be surprised if you can’t find them later. Moms will move their babies.
Healthy kittens: Dry, warm, clean, round bellies, active If the kittens are healthy, leave them be. Their best chance of survival is with mom. If you are able to safely capture mom and kittens, please bring them to SafeHaven. If not, wait until the kittens are old enough to eat solid food on their own and bring the litter of kittens to SafeHaven. You can create a shelter for mom and kittens. To feed the mom, make sure to leave her food away from her litter. She will not use the space if food will attract other cats to her litter. If the kittens are critical, please step in and help! Get the kittens to a dry, warm, and safe place (box or cat carrier).
ESTIMATING KITTENS’ AGE UNDER ONE WEEK: Eyes are shut, ears are folded down, and kittens are unable to walk. They can purr and make tiny noises. The umbilical cord may still be visible.
1-2 WEEKS: Eyes start to open (they are blue) and focus. Ears begin to open and movement is improved to crawling, snuggling, and kneading.
3 WEEKS: Eyes fully open and ears
open and standing up. The kitten will respond to noises and movement. The first wobbly steps are taken and baby teeth start to come in.
4-5 WEEKS: Running, playing,
digging, and pouncing occur often. Kittens will start to wean and will be able to lap up formula, eat soft food, and use the litter box by themselves. Eyes are starting to change color and should fully change from blue to their adult color around 6-8 weeks.
8 WEEKS: Kittens look like little versions of full-grown cats. Eyes have fully changed color.
Bring them to SafeHaven as soon as you can. We have a medical team that can evaluate them and trained Foster Care providers ready to care for kittens until they are ready for adoption. Are there possible dangers around the kittens? If so, move them to a safer place for mom to find them. Possible dangers include: • Dogs or other possible predators around • Construction • High Heat
Keep litters of kittens together. Kitten socialization is important for kitten development. Kittens raised alone do not understand proper socialization cues and can develop single kitten syndrome. This can lead to behavioral issues down the road. If you are unsure of what to do, please do not hesitate to contact SafeHaven at 541-926-2924.
Business Spotlight When COVID-19 first began altering everyone’s lives back in March, there were a lot of unanswered questions for SafeHaven. One of these was, “What will happen to the events already scheduled and are coming soon?” At the time, we had worked with two businesses on Third Party fundraisers, one at Papa’s Pizza Parlor in Corvallis happening in late March and one at Spirit Espresso scheduled for early April. We immediately reached out to each business and, without hesitation, both owners were still on to raise money for the animals! We were elated and excited to partner with both businesses to bring an easy and delicious way to support SafeHaven. On March 25th, Papa’s Pizza Parlor in Corvallis raised $427.03 and on April 3rd, Spirit Espresso raised $585. To our surprise, many people drove in to Spirit Espresso’s line to make a monetary donation, aside from their coffee order, totalling over $100! We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone who visited Papa’s Pizza Corvallis and Spirit Espresso for each fundraiser. We appreciate the support of these local businesses and, with your help, raised over $1,000 for the animals in our care!
DEAR SAFEHAVEN BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NOW! This limited edition book is comprised of YOUR stories about your SafeHaven alum and has been such a fun read for everyone here at the shelter, especially during these uncertain times. We want to send a huge thank you to each individual who submitted their story for the book. GET YOUR COPY TODAY! These books are only $20 and make excellent gifts! Stop by either Gift & Thrift store and pick up your copy today. OR we will mail a copy to you for just $3 more! Simply call Jodi at 541-791-9621 to order your copy and begin reading in just a few days. This will give you time to set aside the tissues. Believe us, you’ll need them!
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Adapting In Light of COVID-19 The news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been fast and ever-changing since it first hit our area in early March. It seems every day brings more uncertainty, but we see that, as a community, we are coming together in ways like never before. Here, you can find the most recent updates about SafeHaven’s operations, resources to help our community, and ways you can continue to support our homeless animals.
ADOPTIONS & INTAKES As of May 26, 2020, all animal adoptions and intakes are by appointment only and animal viewing areas are closed to the general public. If you would like to set up an appointment to visit with one of our animals available for adoption, please call us at 541-928-2789. If you have an emergency and need to release an animal, please call 541-928-6280.
GIFT AND THRIFT STORES After being closed for nearly two months, we were so excited to announce that our Gift & Thrift locations would be reopening for business on Tuesday, May 19th. SafeHaven Gift & Thrift stores in Tangent and Lebanon will be open Tuesday-Saturday 10am -5pm. Donations are accepted Tuesday-Saturday 10am-12pm or until we have reached capacity. Please call ahead to make sure there is space for your donation. Throughout this pandemic, the priority has always been our customers, staff, and volunteers. We care about YOU! As such, we have implemented new protocol as a result of COVID-19. Please visit our website to view these changes or call ahead to find out more.
We look forward to seeing you again! Tangent: 541-791-9621 | Lebanon: 541-405-4494
WAYS YOU CAN HELP Many people have reached out to us asking how they can help SafeHaven during this difficult time. This selfless question exemplifies the kindness and compassion in our community.
Emma and Denise Bigner with Linus
VOLUNTEERS SafeHaven made the difficult decision to suspend all volunteer activities as of March 17th until further notice. SafeHaven cares deeply about the health of our volunteers, staff, and community, and believe this is the most appropriate action for everyone’s welfare. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC. We want to reinforce how valuable our volunteers are to the organization as a whole, and are very appreciative of your support, kindness, and understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back!
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Your support is more important than ever. This global pandemic is having an impact on our events and programs, volunteers, and has left many of our staff without jobs. Our ability to provide care to those most vulnerable, regardless of the environment around us, is dependent on your support. Here are the best ways you can help the animals at SafeHaven Humane Society right now:
Make a one-time donation or join our Inner Circle Caregiver’s Club and become a monthly supporter. Visit www.safehavenhumane.org/donate or call 541-926-2924.
Purchase an item from our Wish List. View our Wish
List online at www.safehavenhumane.org/wish-list. Right now, we are low on dry cat food, gallon sized Ziploc bags, and dog treats.
Make an appointment to adopt or foster an animal
by calling 541-928-2789. We are expecting more friendly faces available for adoption soon! Be sure to keep checking our website to see who is waiting for a new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
PET FOOD PANTRY We understand that times are tough right now and we want to do what we can to help our community. At SafeHaven, we believe pets are family, and we don't want anyone to have to worry about not being able to feed their furry family members. We’ve worked hard to expand our Pet Food Pantry program for community members to stop by the shelter and pick up pet food as needed. This service will be available for the forseeable future and is available during open business hours. Thank you for allowing us to grow the programs we feel our community needs most during these challenging times.
MORE Happy Tails Quarantine Edition
“I adopted Jane, the mama of Sully the pup I fostered. We came very close to cancelling vacation and keeping Sully, but I held out hope he would find a nice family to join. When I came home from vacation and started walking dogs at SafeHaven again, I took out Jane, not knowing she was Sully’s mama. She was very timid and shy, but I really liked her and with COVID-19 happening, I just thought I needed a buddy to hang out with so I went over to adopt her and found out that she was Sully’s mama...must have been meant to be! She slept a lot for a month, but now she is so happy and has really come out of her shell. We really love her! She has also gained weight and her coat looks great. We call her Mary Jane Wigglebutt. -Dave Roberts
“Sending you an update on Valentine, who I adopted on March 27th. She is literally perfect. It took her NO time to come out of her shell. She is the most playful kitty I’ve ever met. She gets zoomies at least three times a day, she loves playing with balls and fish toys and twisty ties, and she likes to hide inside the couch. She loves to be picked up, and she’ll give your neck a hug with her paws and nuzzle your chin. She always wants to be where you are. She will push open the bathroom door while you’re showering and just stare at you. She’s so cute, an incredibly sensitive companion, and incredibly happy and inquisitive. Thank you so much for letting me adopt my best friend.” -Ali Byers 13
For over a year, Barnaby was quite the star around SafeHaven. Until recently, he’s been proud to be the one and only SafeHaven ambassador animal. While Barnaby was at SafeHaven, he got to visit schools to teach children about responsible pet ownership, comfort people in nursing homes with pet therapy, and represent his fellow shelter animals at community events. Barnaby is certainly one of the coolest rabbits you’ll ever meet. He is calm, happy to be snuggled, and has the softest fur you’ve ever felt. During the height of COVID-19 quarantine, there weren’t enough staff members at the shelter to care for him, so he spent his time in a foster home with some of his favorite SafeHaven staff. In May, it was time for Barnaby to retire and search for a forever home. Unsurprisingly, it took no time at all for Barnaby to be adopted by his new owners and is now living his best retired bunny life.
“We are doing great! I renamed Jace to Jax, and he’s been getting his vaccinations at the vet, his demodex has been treated and cleared. He is the best puppy! I’m doing clicker training and he knows sit, down, come, leave it, shake, release, kennel, and high-five. And I just taught him “speak” today! He really is such a sweetheart, I can’t say enough good things about him! I’ve taken him to meet another puppy he loves playing with, and he’s met some adult dogs that have been patient with him. He loves everyone he’s met, and he is patient with brushing, teeth cleaning, and nail clipping! We’ve explored local, natural areas and the Home Depot. We’ve had so much fun hanging out! -Veronika Kivenson
SafeHaven Humane Society P.O. Box 2018 Albany, OR 97321 Return Service Requested
NonProfit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Albany, OR Permit No. 13
Providing the Place You Love to Come Home to Since 1951 Albany: (541) 924-5616 • 321 1st Ave E, Suite 3C Corvallis: (541) 757-1781 • 455 NW Tyler Ave