THE PET PRESS WINTER 2021
A Quarterly Magazine for Rescue Animal Lovers | Compliments of SafeHaven Humane Society
Executive Director Focus Dear Friends: It is hard to believe that the end of the year is approaching so quickly. Time really does fly when you do what you love! I recently celebrated my 20th year at SafeHaven. I could not think of a better way to spend 20 years than rescuing animals and having each of you by my side cheering me on every day. Your support of SafeHaven is awe inspiring and a blessing to so many lives saved. When we first moved into our new facility (over 7 years ago now), I put this quote on the wall in the lobby of our shelter as a reminder to me, the staff, and each person who walks through our doors about why we do what we do at SafeHaven:
"Rescue animals aren't broken; they've simply experienced more life than other animals. If they were human, we would call them wise. They would be the ones with the tales to tell and the stories to write, the ones dealt a bad hand who responded with courage. Don't pity them. Do something. Help a rescue. Donate. Volunteer. Foster. Adopt. But most of all be proud you have their greatness by your side." – Unknown Wishing each of you good health and much happiness for 2022 and the love of a rescue pet by your side. For the animals,
Chris Storm Executive Director PS: Over 2,000 rescue animals found homes through SafeHaven in 2021. Thank you for your support in making this happen!
Table of Contents Executive Director Focus.................. 1 Cover Story............................................. 3 Happy Tails............................................ 4 Events...................................................... 5 Development..................................... . ...7 Community. . ....................................... ...9 Top of the Valley............. ...................11 Gift & Thrift...........................................14 Seven days a week | Noon to 5 PM
Holidays MadeEasy Got a lot of pet lovers in your life? SafeHaven has you covered! Our retail shop has a variety of pet items, including toys, food, treats, collars, and so much more. And don't forget the stylish SafeHaven swag! SafeHaven has some fantastic new merchandise available for purchase as well and will make the perfect holiday gift that your loved one might not expect! And the best part is that your purchase will help us rescue more homeless pets! Shop our Retail area seven days a week, from noon to 5 PM, located in our shelter lobby.
"Our Little Angel" Angel, the cover model for this special issue was adopted many years ago by longtime supporters, Elke and Jim Asleson. Here is her adoption story: "Angel (named by SafeHaven staff as a tiny kitten), was born March 15, 2008. She arrived at SafeHaven in a re-save effort by staff, as this tiny kitten did not conform to pedigree standards for a Lynx Point Siamese. Angel's medical condition was disclosed at SafeHaven. Consequently, she was a long time resident at the shelter. She was not adopted until March 13, 2010 by our family. We took the risk of potential medical bills, but Angel has beat all the odds and is now almost 14 years old! Her condition is called a “Pectas Excavatum”, which is a malformation of the sternum evidenced by a dorsal narrowing of the chest or a depression of the sternum into the chest cavity. Tiny angel was picked up and delivered to Dr. Eric Glaze at Albany Animal Hopsital. He monitored her very carefully, knowing her chances for survival with this condition were slim. Angel's breathing did stabilize under Dr. Glaze's care, and she did not require the very delicate and invasive surgical intervention. She was cared for by SafeHaven staff until she was strong enough to be adopted, but her
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sternum deformity proved to be a hindrance to her adoptibility. She was at SafeHaven for over a year. Angel has proven to be a winning choice and lives up to her name 100 percent! She is the most gentle, affectionate and sweet cat that we have ever owned. She also has shown that when the chips are down, you never give up. She has proven to be a truly gritty kitty. At this time, she is one of four (indoor) rescue cats in our family. She has befriended any and all cats that have come into our home without any hesitation. She loves lap time and enjoys her longer naps now, being a senior kitty. It seems that anytime a “rescue” is given a second chance, they will embrace this gift of a “forever home” and give more love back than we can ever imagine. We are all grateful to SafeHaven Humane Society, and that it is a full adoption shelter. Angel was a long time resident, winning over the hearts of staff. Thank you to Dr. Eric Glaze who kept her with all clinical comforts possible, as her tiny body grew stronger. We have been honored to give Angel, a beautiful cat with tremendous physical challenges, a “forever home”. Merry Christmas to a special Angel!" -The Aslesons
Holiday Happy Tails CALVIN Calvin was found by the police as a stray earlier this summer. He came to us shortly after as part of a special program, the Linn Samaritan Fund. The Linn Samaritan Fund allows for the care of injured or sick animals found by the police. Our veterinarian took x-rays and found that, sadly, his leg was fractured. Dr. Candice Corriher, SafeHaven's veterinarian, took Calvin in as a foster during his time he would need to fully heal. Dr. Corriher placed Calvin's leg in a splint and continued monitoring him. Once he was fully healed and strong enough for adoption, he came back to SafeHaven to ultimately find his forever home. Here is what his new mom told us: "We are loving him SO much. He’s already so comfortable here - he follows us around the house, lays on our laps to get lots of pets, and plays with the toys we got him. He is the perfect cat for us. Thanks for taking such great care of him!"
MATTIE Mattie's Happy Tail has been a perfect example of how adopting a shelter pet can be a slow transition and some require more loving patience once they're home. Here is what her mom, Morgan Ramsdell told us soon after adoption: "Things are going great with Mattie! Her and Sulley (our German Shorthaired Pointer) are playing nicely together. She’s warmed up to Mark and me, and she’s slowly letting our daughter Alison get more and more pets in." Morgan, then explained to us that as well as Mattie was doing, she unfortuantely was not eating much. At the shelter, the staff had suspected stress and her medical exam had proved to be clear for any illness. We reassured Morgan and her family that is was most likely due to stress and to keep doing what she was doing. We heard back about a week later: "She’s slowly making excellent improvements and getting more comfortable here. Her stool firmed up with the rice/ chicken/pumpkin we gave her. She’s doing well in the crate at night. She’s learned to sit for her food." 4
Events THAT'S A WRAP! That's a wrap on our second virtual RESCUE ROUNDUP FROM THE HOMESTEAD! Relying on this event as our largest fundraiser each year, we chose to move forward with yet another online auction and, of course, we knew we would miss seeing all of you in person. But similiar to last year, you SHOWED UP! Many people also took a moment to 'Paws for the Cause' to make a donation and we're happy to report that you truly came to our rescue. This year, you helped us raise $131,167 and with a generous $100,000 match, brought in over $230,000 to to support the care of our homeless pets and the continuation of many needed programs! While we missed seeing everyone, we hope you enjoyed bidding in the comfort of your home. So...y'all come back now, ya hear? We hope to see YOU at the 2022 Rescue Roundup! Fingers crossed we get to see your smiling faces!
SANTA PAWS If you have been supporting SafeHaven through the years, you may have attended Santa Paws, a fundraiser that gives families the option to get their holiday photos done with their pets while making a difference in the lives of shelter animals.
This year, in order to keep the event safe, we again held Santa Paws at the shelter instead of Coastal Farm and Ranch and, of course, in order to keep Santa safe, we gave him the days off. Some families have been attending Santa Paws for over 10 years! So, the show must go on. SafeHaven hosted photo sessions on November 28th, December 4th, and December 5th. We photographed one family at a time, sanitized between groups, and asked people to wait in their cars. We're thrilled that we found a way to keep the tradition of Santa Paws alive once again as were so many of our regulars, along with new faces, too!
Holidays at SafeHaven GIVING TREES Each year, SafeHaven works with many businesses in our community to host Giving Trees that ultimately bring in much needed items to the animals. As you can see in the photo to the left, these trees all have ornaments with a photo of one of our shelter animals and items on our Wish List. You can currently find a Giving Tree at our shelter, both SafeHaven Gift & Thrift stores, Albany Acupuncture, Albany Christian School, Albany Heritage Mall, Ankeny Vineyard, Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers, Cascade Ridge Apartments, Grindz Food Truck, J&J Lighting, Meadowlark Senior Living, Stor 'N Lock, Spoleto’s Pizzeria and Wine Shop, Wilco Lebanon, and Sully’s Stay & Play. If you see one of these trees and wish to participate, select your ornament and simply return gifts and ornaments to SafeHaven Humane Society or place under the Giving Tree. Thank you for making this season bright for the animals!
AND THE WINNER IS... Our annual Christmas Tree Raffle is a wrap and we’re happy to report that we sold ALL 200 of the tickets available and raised $10,000 for the animals! Special thanks and recognition to Rebecca Swanson for generously sponsoring this incredible fundraising opportunity SEVEN years in a row. We are also grateful to Toland Tree Farm for donating a beautiful tree and to the Expressions in Bloom team for offering to professionally decorate this gorgeous tree! Our lucky winner of the $500.00 Visa gift card and the professionally decorated Noble Fir tree is Sheri Hall of Lebanon!
Development
HonorA
Loved one
This Holiday Season
Did you know? You can make a gift in honor of a loved one this holiday season by making a donation through our website or at our shelter. Making a gift to SafeHaven is a great way to honor or remember the animal lover in your life. After you make your gift, a personalized holiday card will be sent to their home or a location of your choosing notifying them of your contribution. 1. Stop by the shelter and make your donation at our front desk and be sure to ask them about our 'Honor A Loved One Holiday Program'. They will ask you for the recipient's information and a card will be sent. 2. Simply head over to our website and click DONATE in the top left corner. Make sure to check the box marked 'I would like to dedicate this donation.' This will ask you for names and the address where you would like the card sent. For a holiday card to be sent before Christmas, tributes will need to be made on or before Friday, December 17th.
SAFEHAVEN 2022 CALENDARS You'll want this happy calendar hanging in your home or office for the next 14 months! In 2021, we auctioned off 14 slots to supporters who wanted to feature their pet in our next calendar. This not only brought in funds to save more pets, we also were so happy to see the photos and hear the stories of your furry loved ones! We're happy to announce that this calendar is now available for purchase. Get your copy at the SafeHaven lobby or at either Gift & Thrift for only $10 and enjoy happy tails all year long. These calendars will also make a great gift! Don't wait - stock is limited.
Giving Tuesday Recap What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a movement fueled by community and kindness to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season. To celebrate Giving Tuesday this year, SafeHaven shared with the community some of the stories that warm our hearts and make every effort worthwhile. On social media and through emails, we told you about Charlotte, a sweet Texas girl who has been extra patient in waiting for a perfect family. This year, we also had a generous and anonymous match of $15,000! On Giving Tuesday this year, YOU helped raise $11,374, resulting in a total of $26,374 for the animals at SafeHaven and the many more to come through the doors that will need our help. Because of your support, each of the animals here, and the many to come, WILL find their forever homes, no matter how long it takes.
We'reThankful forYou! After over a year and a half of very unexpected and unforeseen circumstances, this Thanksgiving, we are most thankful for you. If you are reading this Pet Press, if you have visited our shelter and/or Gift & Thrift stores, if you've adopted, if you've attended an event, if you Like or Share our stories on social media, THANK YOU. There are so many ways to support SafeHaven and we know that we have had you on our team, especially though this crazy time. Through the height of the pandemic and all the twists and turns in between, we have been grateful to be able to count on your support for the animals. Since they have no voice of their own, you have given us the ability to speak up for them and demand better for the over 2,000 pets adopted each year. So Thank You! Your dedication does not go unnoticed and we are all thinking of you with appreciation this holiday season. PAID FOR ADVERTISEMENT
Community UPDATING ORNAMENTS We want to send a huge Thank You to Phi Sigma Rho from Oregon State University for stopping by on November 11th to help us make new ornaments for our Giving Tree program! This program brings in many much-needed supplies to help us through the year and we love how the ornaments turned out.
FINDING HOMES IN DALLAS We're so happy to be back out in the community hosting adoption events with our supporting businesses! On Saturday, October 30th, we were invited to Pets Unleashed in Dallas where we were happy to be greeted by a line of people waiting to adopt. We brought Jug along and he was adopted before we could even get everything set up! We also had two kittens get adopted and go home with some very happy kiddos. And great news, we’ve already scheduled another adoption event in Dallas for Saturday, December 11th!
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Community
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here is a story that makes us smile so big! This sweet girl asked for donations of cat and dog food for her 6th birthday (in lieu of gifts) and brought in a whole cart full of goodies for the animals at SafeHaven on November 6th! Thank you so much - check out all those awesome supplies!
A HAPPY REUNION Reunited and it feels so good! Lily, the cat pictured here, came into SafeHaven after being found by a good Samaritan to check for a microchip and luckily, Lily had one! We were able to call her owners who told us she had been missing for 3 months after their recent move. We love reuniting pets with their owners and are always happy to scan for a microchip! This is our cue to remind you of the importance of microchipping your furry loved one. All of the animals adopted out from SafeHaven are microchipped. Call your veterinarian to book an appointment to microchip today!
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It's Ok, Ellie AND YOU THOUGHT THE PET PRESS WAS A TEAR JERKER... Charlotte LOVED us reading "It's Ok, Ellie" to her this weekend. This book is based on a true story and is about a SafeHaven alum who waited patiently for her forever family. You see, Charlotte, herself, sometimes has a hard time trusting and warming up to humans. Ellie, in the book, had a similar story and ultimately found the perfect humans and even a fur sibling! If you purchase a copy of "It's Ok, Ellie", 10% of the profits will be donated to the animals at SafeHaven! You won't want to miss this book, available on Amazon.
TOP OF THE VALLEY THANK YOU for voting! We're proud to be named Best Pet Rescue and Best Place to Volunteers by Mid-Valley Media Group’s “Top of the Valley – Best of 2021”, the largest celebration of local businesses, people, and services across the entire mid-Willamette Valley.
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Pet Holiday Safety The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to try to keep your pet's eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. Also, please be sure to steer pets clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations.
Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations
Plan a Pet-Safe Holiday Gathering
Oh, Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he ingest.
House Rules: If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you're busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.
Avoid Mistletoe & Holly: Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.
Put the Meds Away: Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too. A Room of Their Own: Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.
Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.
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Community SHOUT OUT We want to send a huge shout out to Youth Volunteer Corps of Corvallis Oregon for coming to SafeHaven to volunteer on October 22nd! They spent so much time and effort helping us to deep clean the shelter and socialize with the animals. Our shelter has been full, so their help was very much needed and appreciated. This group's love for animals is clear!
RESCUE ALERT We had many new friends join us from all over the nation this season. On October 21st, we accepted over 30 new adoptable pets in need of a second chance thanks to our friends, START Animal Rescue. Since then, all but one transport pet has been adopted and has a home for the holidays!
BREAKING RECYCLING RECORDS Put all of your holiday party cans and bottles to good use by collecting them in a blue bag to support the animals at SafeHaven. Empty blue bags with SafeHaven barcodes are available at the shelter or you can bring your cans and bottles to us. This year so far, this program has raised $9,815! Will you help us get to $10,000?
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Gift & Thrift HOLIDAYS ON A BUDGET We all know that the holidays can be a stressful (and expensive) time of the year for many people, but we have the solution! Need some new Christmas decorations? We’ve got them! Need an outfit for that holiday party? We have so many to choose from! Need gift ideas for that one family member that is hard to shop for? We definitely have something they’ll enjoy! SafeHaven has two Gift & Thrift locations with so much to choose from, it’s sure to make your holidays easy and affordable! Check out some of the holiday items we have in our stores right now! And as an added bonus, you can tell the recipient of your gift or the visitors to your house that you shopped at SafeHaven Gift and Thrift and helped contribute to saving thousands of homeless and abused animals every year. What better gift is there than to give a second chance to an animal in need?
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All of these items were found at the SafeHaven Gift & Thrift stores!
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
