Cape Gazette Article on Safe Haven's Life Preserver Dogs

(Source: Submitted) Fay, a shepherd mix, no longer the mangy stray before rescue by Safe Haven

Safe Haven seeks homes for rescued dogs

Shelter construction is ongoing

Jun 12, 2011

Fay, a shepherd mix, is now ready for her forever home. Before Safe Haven rescued Fay, most of her fur was lost because of mange. Fay's fur grew back beautifully after Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary got her the medical treatment she needed.

Fay is one of many Delaware dogs who would have been put down if Safe Haven had not rescued them. These dogs are available to people who want to foster and/or adopt. Photos of the dogs are posted on the Life Preserver Dogs page at www.safehavende.org.

Fostering is Safe Haven's approach for finding out how a dog fits in with the household. If the dog is not compatible for some reason, Safe Haven will take it back. Some of the Delaware dogs rescued by Safe Haven were sick or injured but are now fully recovered. Several dogs, like Smokie the cocker spaniel, are seniors who are still full of life. Some are young, big dogs like Sven the white shepherd mix, who need exercise and gentle, positive training.

Rhett is one of Safe Haven's dogs

Animal Shelters recognize that many people do not like black animals

Rhett is one of Safe Haven's black dogs who needs a foster home. "We have a number of black Lab mixes, due to the bias against black animals, which is widely acknowledged by animal shelters," said Safe Haven Director Anne Gryczon. "We also have some very lovable pit bulls, and several are happily living with families. Many people are not aware that pit bulls were once known as the nanny dogs because they are so good with children."

Anyone may call 302-856-6460 to arrange to meet one or more of the dogs at their convenience. Safe Haven volunteers can bring a dog to a caller’s home for a visit, or the interested party can come to a kennel where the dogs are boarded to meet them.

Gryczon said, "We are really grateful to the kennels boarding our dogs at no charge: the Good Dog Inn, which has Penelope, the platinum lab; and Ashley's Pet Ranch, which has our mother/daughter pair of yellow labs, Antigone and Jocasta, a bonded pair who need to be kept together because the daughter is blind. Doggies at the Beach has also helped this way. We are also grateful to the kennels that discount their rates for our dogs, including Never Never Land, Biscuit and Bones, All Aboard Kennel, Delmarva Kennel, Canine Cabin and Simply Home."

Safe Haven is saving dogs in cooperation with Kent County SPCA, which has the animal control contract for Sussex County. Stray and lost dogs picked up in Sussex County are taken to Kent County SPCA. Delaware law now requires that rescue groups be notified before animals are put down. Safe Haven's new building will provide cage-free space for 150 dogs and 250 cats. R.Y. Johnson & Son Inc., Safe Haven's general contractor, is now putting up the sanctuary walls at the 13-acre site on Shingle Point Road near Georgetown.

The building, which has green features such as a geothermal HVAC system, was designed by architect David Quillin to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, the national benchmark for eco-friendly buildings.

For more about Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary, visit www.safehavensanctuary.com.