FAIRHOPE'S ONLY NO-KILL ANIMAL SHELTER

THE HAVEN AND MADDIES PET RESCUE PROJECT

Click here to view more infomation about Maddies Fund

Spring Yard Sale

This Saturday The Haven will feature the BIGGEST and BEST yard sale of the year! The Haven's Resale Shop located at 357 Morphy Ave in Fairhope will have its annual Spring Yard Sale. The shop is managed 100% by volunteers and all proceeds benefit The Haven. "Monies generated by these hard working dedicated volunteers helps us provide medical care and other necessary supplies for the many homeless animals, says Micahel Graham, Executive Director of The Haven. This is a fantastic event for all those thrifty shoppers out there." The shop excepts donations all year long and always has really great bargins. So, come shop til you drop because it's all going to to a great cause. For more information: 251.929.1911

State Organizations Recognize The Haven

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The Haven, Fairhope’s no kill animal shelter, recently received two state awards from the Alabama Animal Control Association (AACA). AACA is a state organization made up of administrators and animal control officers from across Alabama. The awards were for “Support Staff of the Year” and “Administrator of the Year.” The awards were presented during the AACA and Alabama Humane Federation luncheon during the AACA annual conference held last week in Orange Beach, Alabama.

WHAT IS THE HAVEN?

The Haven is a non- profit, no kill animal shelter in Fairhope, Alabama. We provide a refuge for the homeless, neglected, abused and forgotten cats and dogs in our community. One of our goals is to provide these animals with care and medical attention in order to return them to society in loving homes.

The Haven was the idea and dream of Dr. Teresa Marshall, a local veterinarian, who ran The Haven out of her clinic for eleven years. In 2000 The Haven became a non- profit organization with a Board of Directors. In 2002 the city of Fairhope offered use of part of the city animal shelter in return for The Haven providing veterinary care and staffing for the entire shelter. With this agreement both our need and ability to find homes for animals increased.

Many of the animals at The Haven have been neglected, starved, struck by cars, beaten, and/or otherwise abused so the veterinary care and rehabilitation is frequently extensive and expensive. All of the animals are spayed or neutered and receive all necessary veterinary care such as deworming, heartworm testing, feline aids and leukemia testing. Potential adopters are carefully screened. Current adoption fees are $ 55 for cats and $80 for dogs. We are a no kill shelter so no adoptable animal is euthanized just because we don?t find it a ready home- we just keep trying. Also we ask that if any home situation/adoption does not work out for a Haven ?graduate? that the animal be brought back to The Haven so that we can find them the right home. We have the motto ?once a Haven animal, always a Haven animal?. We have frequent ?off site? adoption events, website marketing and other active marketing, as well as adoptions at the shelter - all in an effort to place animals.

Another important role The Haven plays is educating the community on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. We also have educational programs and information encouraging the humane care of animals- such as warning of the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars. We are becoming involved in the school system and discussing these issues with the children.

The Haven would not exist though without all the tireless work of its many volunteers. Volunteers? tasks are near endless including office support, walking dogs, helping at adoption and fundraising events, and, yes, cleaning cages. The Haven does various fundraisers through out the year to raise money for operations. Recent events have included a pet photo contest, a pet essay contest, a benefit luncheon featuring Fannie Flagg, and a pet Mardi Gras parade. The Haven also operates a resale shop of donated items with the proceeds benefiting The Haven. The resale shop also provides a volunteer opportunity for people who prefer not to work at the shelter itself.

The Haven is a relatively new organization that has made great strides in a short amount of time. We are proud of what we have accomplished, but we have a long way to go. We are striving to live in a society where loving, adoptable animals are not being killed.

We appreciate your interest and if you have further questions feel free to contact us at (251) 929-3980, or at thehaven4animals@yahoo.com. Our web site is www.thehavenforanimals.petfinder.com. Mail may be sent to P.O. Box 1063 Fairhope, AL 36533 .You may visit us at the shelter at 559 South Section Street in Fairhope, Ala. Finally donations are always greatly appreciated and tax deductible as allowed by law as The Haven is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization.

OUR FEATURE PET

Shilo is The Haven's Pet of the Month. Check out Shilo's story by visiting our pet list. If you are looking to adopt a healthy and adorable friend for life then check out The Haven's upcoming list of events or stop by and visit the shelter.

Myths and Facts about Spaying and Neutering

MYTH: Animals become fat and lazy after being spayed or neutered. FACT: Sterilization does not cause an animal to become fat or lazy. Fat animals are usually overfed and under-exercised..

MYTH: It's better to spay a female animal after her first heat or after one Litter. FACT: Animals as young as eight weeks of age can safely be spayed. Early spaying reduces the incidence of mammary (breast) cancer and eliminates diseases of the ovaries and uterus..

MYTH: Spaying or Neutering will change a pet's personality and behavior. FACT: Neutering produces positive behavior changes. Neutering can reduce or even eliminate annoying spraying behavior in male cats. Neutered animals are less likely to roam and be hit by cars or attacked by other animals or cruel humans. Neutered cats fight less and are less likely to get abscesses or become infected with diseases like Feline Leukemia (FELV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)..

MYTH: My pet is getting older, and I want another one just like him/her. FACT: Every animal is unique. There will never be another animal exactly like Fido or Fluffy. .

MYTH: I want my child to witness the miracle of birth. FACT: Most animals give birth in the middle of the night, in a place of their choosing. A love of life and living things should not be taught at the expense of innocent animals. .

MYTH: I can find homes for the entire litter, and make some money, too! FACT: There are already far too many animals for sale to count on finding a buyer. For every animal that is placed, another dies somewhere else unwanted and abandoned. Add in the expense of raising a litter - food, vaccinations, stud fees, etc.- and the time involved, and any profits you may have imagined quickly disappear. .

MYTH: Neutering my dog will make him less protective. FACT: Neutering your dog may make him more protective of your family, since he is less likely to roam. Neutering also prevents testicular tumors, decreases the possibility of perianal tumors and hernias, and may prevent prostate problems later in life.

We are now open later hours to better serve our communities needs: