No-Kill Mission

Thousands of pets are destroyed in Delaware animal shelters every year.  Most of the cats and dogs are frequently put down because of sickness, injury, age, and behaviors such as being too shy or "aggressive."  Safe Haven will never put down any animal unless he/she is in great pain from untreatable or unmanageable illness/injury.

In addition, there are thousands of feral and abandoned cats living outside.  We are so grateful to the good people who feed these cat colonies and we provide free cat food from our Pet Food Pantry to help this situation.  Safe Haven is totally committed to the No-Kill ethic for all cats and dogs in Delaware.

Our Mission

• Operate our No-Kill sanctuary as a safety net for dogs and cats.
• Follow the model of Best Friends, the No Kill shelter in Utah, that has demonstrated the feasibility of the No Kill ethic for three decades.
• Help people retain their pets if at all possible and in the best interests of the animals.
• Give loving care to 200+ cats and dogs at a time with well-trained staff and volunteers. 
• Ensure excellent veterinary care that seeks to save animals, in accordance with the Golden Rule.
• Find good homes for our dogs and cats, making matches based on our understanding of our  animals' personalities.
• Make the best use of donations by operating efficiently and effectively.
• Work towards making Sussex County a No-Kill community and Delaware a No-Kill state.