SAFE Haven for Cats – “The Scratching Post” – 2022 Spring Newsletter

Just for You! Impact ...................... pg 3 Cute Cats ................. pg 3 Tuxedo Cat Ball ....... pg 6

www.safehavenforcats.org www.safecareclinic.org

SPRING 2022

17th Annual April 22, 2022 at the North Ridge Country Club See page 6 for details and tickets!

Message from Our Founder and President Dear SAFE Haven family, I always enjoy writing our Spring Newsletter because it gives me the opportunity to report back to you—our most cherished supporters —on our lifesaving progress for the first seven months of our fiscal year from July 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. AND after a two year absence, I am able to talk about our fantastic, upcoming 17th Annual Tuxedo Cat Ball!

The Great News is: •

The expansion of SAFE Haven and SAFE Care (completed mid-2020) is working to save many more lives, just the way we planned.

•

We are adopting nearly 100 cats per MONTH! Even more than before the pandemic. This is 22 MORE per month than prior to our expansion.

•

We are spaying and neutering 425 cats and 40 dogs a MONTH in the SAFE Care low cost spay/neuter clinic. Before the expansion, this was 158 per month.

•

Pet Food Pantry distributions to needy cats and dogs are up 20%.

•

Volunteers are back to pre-COVID levels donating over $300K per year in service. I just counted the volunteers from last week – 121 people volunteered in the last seven days!

•

The sterilization of feral cats in the SAFE Care Clinic has increased 50% (656 in the last seven months!)

But these facts are for your head. And although they are important and demonstrate our impact, the reason we all work with, volunteer for, support, and adopt from SAFE Haven is because of our hearts. Because of the love we have for animals and our desire to see them safe, well fed, warm, and loved. That is what SAFE Haven is really about—love. Thank you for expressing that love in everything you do for the kitties.

With much gratitude for you,

Pamela Miller Founder & President P.S. And to warm your heart check out the transformative cat stories on page 3.

Comet

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Moon Cake

July 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022

Seven months into our fiscal year— What YOU have made possible!

A Week in the Life of SAFE Haven These are just a few examples of more than 700 cats that have recently come through SAFE Haven. We can honestly say they left much better off—thanks to YOU!

Sadey Sadey has very wispy, delicate black hair and delicate skin too. She came to us with a nasty wound in her front right armpit. Not to worry! After surgery to place a drain in the wound, antibiotics, and great care from our shelter and veterinary staff, Sadey went to her new home five weeks later.

Hartley Hartley is 15 years old and is one of the oldest cats we had this year.

When he arrived, his whole coat was matted. After a nice all-over shave, he found his new home on December 31st. Happy New Year Hartley!

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A Week in the Life of SAFE Haven continued

Keyshla Keyshla, is an 8-year-old stray kitty who got the medical attention she needed to slow down the progression of undiagnosed kidney disease.

Now she is on a special food and in her new home.

Calcifer Calcifer, a 2-year-old stray found in Louisburg, was suffering from a huge wound behind his ear. Look at him on his way home all healed up!

Tinky Winky Tinky Winky is a little kitten who was born to a stray cat in Knightdale. He has a congenital condition called Cerebellar Hypoplasia in which the brain does not fully develop. TW has a very mild case which is good and because he is so darn cute you might not even notice his little head shakes and trembly gait. He was adopted in January – imagine what would have happened to him outside fending for himself.

Picollo

Picollo (and brother Karo) were found as strays in Raleigh. They had a bad case of ringworm! The thing about ringworm (a fungus that is the same as Athlete’s Foot in humans) is that it is entirely curable. But it takes 5-6 weeks of baths and dips, oral, and topical treatments. As you can see from this photo, Picollo’s formerly “patchy” coat was beautiful when he was adopted.

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UPDATES AND NEWS! WRAL People’s Choice Awards We were not kidding about volunteers liking it here!

SAFE Haven was voted as the Best Place to Volunteer and the Best Nonprofit Organization in January. Want to volunteer? Simply go to our website and click on “volunteer.” You will see descriptions of our many opportunities and the volunteer application! Training is provided for everyone, there are no minimum requirement per month, and did we mention you get to see adorable cats and kittens every time you come?! A Volunteer Information Session is also planned for May 1. Details will be posted on our website and Facebook page.

Sunny – the Puppy Bowl Kitten!

On Super Bowl Sunday, one of SAFE Haven’s kittens was featured on Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl!” Sunny represented SAFE Haven (one of only three cat shelters selected for this honor in the whole U.S.) and was an immediate star.

SAFE Care Clinic News If you need an appointment to get your cat, feral cat, or dog (under forty pounds) sterilized, we can help!

Visit safecareclinic.org to book online or call 919 872-7720 and speak to Devyn. We are grateful to the Margo T. Petrie Spaying & Neutering Foundation for their support of our clinic.

Purr Cup Café If you have not visited Raleigh’s only Cat Café, what are you waiting for? We supply the cats; they supply the coffee, beer, kombucha, matcha, wine, vegan pastries, gift store, and patio! Since opening in October 2020, 136 cats have been adopted from the Café. Located at 210 Prospect Avenue, Raleigh, there is currently no indoor seating besides the cat room, but there is a great front porch and a spacious back patio with heaters. Watch for vegan food trucks and unique events when the weather warms up. Bring a 4x6 photo of your kitty and for a $10 donation to SAFE Haven, your cat’s picture can hang in the gallery at the Purr Cup Café.

Visit their website at www.purrcupcafe.com and book a reservation to visit with the cats – you and your friends or family will have the entire kitty room to yourselves. You can also book birthday parties, business meetings, and everything in between.

F lourite

Purr Cup Café

The Adoption Center is Open You do not need an appointment to visit us! The lobby of our shelter is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 5 pm. Feel free to come by and drop off supplies or visit with the kitties if you are interested in adopting (we do not, however, do adoptions on Mondays). If it is more convenient, you may set up an appointment to visit with the adoptable cats too. Visit our website and click “adopt” to get complete information.

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Join us for our biggest lifesaving event of the last two years!

17th ANNUAL TUXEDO CAT BALL Back after a two-year absence!

Come celebrate with us!

North Ridge Country Club Friday, April 22 7-11 pm

tuxedocatball.org TICKETS

$100.00 per person Each ticket includes: Two drink tickets per person (wine, beer, and soft drinks) Buffet dinner, coffee, and dessert Entertainment – cats, dancing, live and silent auctions, surprises, and SAFE Haven’s new video Free valet parking Sponsorships Still Available – Full and half tables

We love this custom designed necklace, don’t you?

Once again, Silver Sponsor, Raleigh Diamond Fine Jewelry, will present unique one-of-a kind jewelry for our auctions.

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Thank you to our Tuxedo Cat Ball Sponsors SILVER SPONSORS

Tom & Julie Suiter

ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS

Bob & Chrys Baker

Cindy Marrelli Gail & Fosters

Melissa & Tom Anderson

Marie & Frank Seiber

SUSTAINING SPONSORS

Cathy Easop, Financial Advisor

Rosa Chrismon & Beth Lindsey Irena Caf & James Smith

Pam Miller

Brian & Tracy Coyle

Sherry Johnson

Rep. Cynthia Ball & Dave Aspnes

Jay Riley

With over 60 years combined feline veterinary experience our doctors have been serving feline patients since 1994. We provide care exclusively for felines in a calm and friendly environment having earned Gold Certification as a Cat Friendly Practice.

Jill Odom

From your kitten to your senior cat, we are here to help with all of your cat’s medical needs. We offer preventative and emergency care as well as boarding and grooming.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Sue Minns

Janet Hensel

Mary Ka & Mark Powers

SAFE Haven Alum, Wombat, will greet you when you arrive.

SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS

THE CAT HOSPITAL OF DURHAM & CHAPEL HILL 5319 New Hope Commons Drive, Suite 102B Durham, NC 27707 Phone: (919) 489-5142

Rivethead, LLC Tricia & Michael Crowe Irene DeZwaan RE/MAX Performance *Sponsor list as of 2/23/2022

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8431-137 Garvey Drive, Raleigh, NC 27616

SAFE Haven for Cats 8431-137 Garvey Drive Raleigh, NC 27616 919.872.SAFE (7233) safehavenforcats.org safecareclinic.org Photos: Photos in this publication are courtesy of contributors Caroline Dickson and Mary Ka Powers.

About SAFE Haven for Cats SAFE Haven’s mission is to use no-kill principles and education to save cats’ lives through rescue, adoption, spay/neuter services, and community programs.

SAFE Haven for Cats Board of Directors Mary Ka Powers, Chair Shelby Kinsey, Vice Chair Leslie Karlsson, Treasurer Jill Odom, Secretary Becky Loyd R. Lynn Coleman Lori Taylor Cathy Easop Doug Eader Pam Miller SAFE Haven for Cats Staff Founder and President Pam Miller pam@safehavenforcats.org 919.582.7834 Senior Director Patti Godin patti@safehavenforcats.org 919.341.6287 Medical Director Tiffany Kutner, DVM drtiffany@safehavenforcats.org 919.341.4093 Volunteer Coordinator 919.341.4103 SAFE Care Clinic Office Manager Devyn Paquette devyn@safehavenforcats.org 919.872.7730 Outreach Manager Gina Jennings gina@safehavenforcats.org 919.872.7730

Ushio says... Are you ready for the Tuxedo Cat Ball? I am!