Safe Haven Animal Rescue Effort, Inc. was started
by a few animal lovers who saw a need to save the dogs that were being put down at an unacceptable rate. Dogs were being
picked up as strays or homeless and when jobs were lost due to econmy families found themselves faced with the effort
to feed their families so the pet was taken to the pound. Older citizens who have suffered medical emergencies and have
been taken to nursing homes only to leave a pet the family does not want or cannot care for. Numerous reasons people
are forced to surrender their pets have caused an overcrowding as well as the lack of spay / neuter laws. Whatever the reason
for the dogs ending up at the pound when the10 cages were full they were being euthanized.
Future Goals are to:
- Involve local schools by offering community service hours for volunteers
- Education programs in schools on animal ownership responsibilities such as spay/ neuter
- Running a full service grooming center for local pet owners
- Having an open adoption center for the dogs and cats rescued
- Getting local vets involved with low cost spay and neuter efforts
- Working with local and state government to improve pounds and initiate better animal rights and protection
laws
The Boone County pound has been receptive to change and the opportunity to help find dogs homes instead of
euthanize them. The county pound operator is an animal lover and was compelled to take the job when it came open in
order to promote change and better conditions at the facility. It is not the ideal job and he is underpayed for the
job he does. There is no vet care afforded for these dogs, puppies are housed with adults and male and female
dogs are kept together due to overcrowding and the overpopulation problem. The shelter is extremely small and underfunded. However
Boone County pound is much cleaner and better organized than Logan County pound which still uses the gas chamber to euthanize
the dogs and cats they kill and the shelter is poorly managed by people who show no concern for animal welfare or trying
to find homes for the animals in my opinion.
There was not much of a chance any of these dogs would find a home or family. The Boone
County pound is out in a remote area that does not get a lot of traffic and no organized adoption efforts were in place. Our volunteers
go to the shelter and take pictures of the dogs brought in and get them posted on the internet so they have a chance to find
a home. The dogs are transported to other rescues in different states, no kill shleters or Safe Haven Animal Rescue
where they are more likely to find homes. Not all of the dogs will find these homes and we know that some will be put
down simply because the pound is overcrowded and there are no available foster homes to place them in.
Since February of 2008 when SHARE was started we have rehomed 486 dogs and cats. We work solely on
donations. SHARE Rescue also takes in cats which are not accepted at the local pound. Most of the dogs
we rescue are taken to the vet to be checked before we place them in foster care or with another rescue. Since we have
no physical shelter at this time cats and dogs are placed in volunteers homes to care for until the dogs or cats are placed.
(UPDATE: We now have a building which was an old school house that is being
renovated to accommodate the dogs and cats that are now fostered in 5 counties. Over the next few months we will be
making the much needed repairs and upgrades to the building in order to transform it into a shelter and "SAFE HAVEN" for the
many animals in Logan, Boone, Mingo and Lincoln counties as well as the ones we take from Kanawha county.)
They therefore need to be moved to permanent homes or rescues that are better equipped to house them as
quickly as possible to make room for others at the pounds that would be euthanized.
All vet care, transportation, feeding and maintenance cost are provided by volunteers and donations
by animal lovers.
The process of this effort requires
1. trips to the pound or to the site where animals are abandoned or in need.
2. finding a foster or taking the animal into your own home
3. feeding, watering, walking / providing exercise and cleaning the crates and kennels the dogs and
cats are housed in
4. hours of phone calls and emails and posting the dogs and cats to websites to give them the exposure they
need to find an adopter.
5. making arrangements to transport the animal to the adopter if they are out of state or an extended distance.
6. trips to the vet for care if the animal needs shots or spayed/neutered
7. advertising and exposure to solicit donations and physical help
8. filling paperwork to make assure compliance with all permits and licenses
9. newsletters to keep supporters updated to changes and accomplishments.
10. organizing volunteers when they are present
11. fundraising efforts
12. communication with potential adopters who require info and pictures of the animals
The list goes on and the everyday care and maintenance of the animals is a full time job however with the
adoption effort and the rescue effort it is two full time jobs. If you would like to help with a monetary donation,
dog food or supplies or would be willing to help feed, water or walk or are able to foster one or more dogs or cats please
contact:
Safe Haven Animal Rescue Effort, Inc.
c/o Trish Bragg
P.O. Box 273
Jeffrey, WV 25114
304-369-5751
304-546-3916
WE DESPERATELY NEED VOLUNTEERS IN THIS AREA!
