A cageless, no-kill, non-profit animal welfare group serving the Olympic Peninsula since 2000
A cageless, no-kill, non-profit animal welfare group serving the Olympic Peninsula since 2000
MITTENS
Domestic Shorthair, Female
Color: Brown/white tabby
Size: Extra large
Age: Senior
Special needs: possible hyperthroidism
Mittens is one of the sweetest, most loving mature kitties we’ve seen. Originally adopted from Safe Haven as a kitten, she was returned because her person needed to go into assisted living. She is a gorgeous brown and white tabby with striking markings, and she definitely doesn’t look (or act) her age! She just wants to be cuddled, loved and petted. She is being tested for hyperthroidism, and is otherwise very healthy. After her tests are complete, nothing would please her more than to find her new furrever home.
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MERRY
Merry is an elderly kitty. Because of her extremely friendly nature, we believe she was someone’s pet. Sadly, she ended up in a feral colony, having to fend for herself. At the colony, the wonderful woman who provided food for the cats developed an attachment to her – Merry would hop into her car every time the woman came to feed the cats. During one visit to the colony, our caregiver noticed that another cat with whom she had bonded was missing. She began to fear for the safety of our Merry. She decided that, since Merry had already jumped into her car, she would just drive away and take Merry to safety.
Unable to take her to her own home, our caregiver brought Merry to stay with a relative. Merry was infested with fleas, seriously underweight, and in need of some very necessary, basic care. Before a veterinarian had the opportunity to examine her, Merry got into a minor scuffle with the relative’s dog and disappeared for a few days.
When our caregiver found Merry again, someone had attempted to wrap this poor girl in duct tape! Using coconut oil and tender loving care our caregiver was able to remove the tape, but much of the sticky residue remained, creating mats that had to be removed by shaving her belly.
During her first vet visit Merry was diagnosed with severe hyperthyroidism. PFOA made arrangements to have her treated at the hyperthyroid clinic. Before she could be treated for hyperthyroidism, she was returned to the vet for additional testing. On the second visit the vet found that Merry had fluid in her abdomen. An ultrasound showed a suspicious shadow in her liver that looked like it could be cancer. PFOA has set her up in our isolation trailer with comfortable beds, cat trees and all the food she can eat. We will support her with steroids and methimazole for her hyperthyroidism, along with all of the love and affection that our staff and dedicated volunteers can provide.
Despite all she has been through Merry is very affectionate. She loves attention from people, rewarding them with purrs and soft kneads with her paws. We hope that everyone will visit Merry and share in giving this little gal all of the love she so richly deserves. Every day with sweet Merry is a gift, and she has been doing much better than we ever expected. Perhaps she will be with us for much longer than we anticipated. Nothing would make us happier.
MARTHA
.MARTHA was born in May, 2001 and came to PFOA in February, 2002. She loves attention and “talks” to the volunteers who regularly visit her. She was recently placed in a foster home, where she has adjusted well and has a happy home.
BUCKY
BUCKY is a male Lhasa Apso purchased from a pet store and sold as an 8-week-old puppy. Originally from a puppy mill, Bucky chased cats, fought with other dogs, nipped care-takers, resisted potty training and generally misbehaved. After 11 homes, he has found a wonderful foster home willing to accept his naughtiness and keep him from harm’s way. While mostly loving and affectionate, Bucky’s unpredictability makes him unsuitable for adoption, so he will remain in PFOA’s care for his protection.
FAGIN
FAGIN was born in April, 2003 and has been at Safe Haven since July, 2003. He is a green-eyed, short-haired black male who can best be described as a “big lug” full of love. He “head butts” and leans into his human and feline friends to show his affection. He likes brushing and belly rubs on occasion, too. Fagin is currently under dietary restriction in an attempt to lose some excess weight. He currently lives out at Barker House.
BOBBIE JO
BOBBIE JO is an adorable special-needs Manx kitty. She came to us in the fall of 2012 when we received a call from an elderly gentleman that there was a kitten dying under his deck. When we arrived, we found a tiny kitten in a real mess, but she had no intention of dying – this little girl is a fighter! Bobbie has done very well, but as is common with some Manx cats, she does not have good bowel and bladder control. While this has greatly improved, she still requires special care and attention, and will probably do so for the rest of her life.
LUCY-ALICE
One day, in early 2011, a sweet, gentle, affectionate little Manx kitten named Lucy-Alice was adopted from PFOA. Lucy-Alice resembled a very small, very colorful Lynx, with her gorgeous green eyes, pointed tufted ears, and calico tabby markings. It was easy to fall in love with her, and she found the best of homes with a couple who adored her.
What her loving parents didn’t know, was that some Manx cats are afflicted with Manx syndrome, a spinal disorder. The mutation that causes the loss or shortening of the tail also affects the spine, spinal cord and nerves. As a result, cats with this condition may have problems with bowel and bladder control. The condition generally shows up in kittens by the time they are four months old.
Lucy-Alice did not show any signs of Manx syndrome until a year after she was adopted. Of course, by this time, Lucy-Alice was a much loved member of her new family. When she began to have little “accidents”, they hoped that they were just that – simple accidents. But they were attached to Lucy-Alice. She was so loved. “Maybe she will grow out of it,” they thought. “It will just take a little more time.”
After considerable more time, they had to acknowledge that Lucy-Alice would not grow out of it. Their decision was heart-wrenching, but unavoidable. They contacted Nancy, the Shelter Director at Peninsula Friends of Animals. Could PFOA take Lucy-Alice back? This was not a decision to be taken lightly. Lucy-Alice would require a substantial investment of time and money. A generous gift from a very special supporter allowed PFOA to set up a special area, called “Turtle Towers”, for Lucy-Alice and an older kitten, Bobbie Jo, who also has Manx syndrome. Unfortunately, Bobbie Jo, having lived her first years of life as a single kitty, did not enjoy the company of gregarious Lucy-Alice and trouble broke out between the two girls. It became apparent that the best thing would be to separate the pair.
Lucy-Alice is one of the sweetest, most loving kitties anyone could ever hope to meet. Everyone who spends any time with her falls irrevocably in love with her. And that’s what happened when Tracy, Animal Caretaker at Barker House, first met Lucy-Alice in the summer of 2016. On a bright, sunny day, a couple of months later, Tracy came to pick up Lucy-Alice and take her to her new home at Barker House, a small PFOA facility designed for the care of special needs animals. Lucy-Alice will probably remain at Barker House for the rest of her life. There are very few people who have the type of facilities, and the time, money and dedication needed to provide a good home for her. PFOA is committed to providing Lucy-Alice with the best quality of life possible.
We are grateful to the sponsors who contribute to the care of Lucy-Alice, as well as our other special needs animals. While we still hope that Lucy may find her own family to love and care for her, it is not likely. So, for the rest of her days, Lucy will enjoy her life with her beloved caregiver in the sunny warm rooms of Barker House.
SPATZIDomestic Shorthair, Male
Color: Brown w/white
Size: large
Born: January 12, 2005
Special needs: none
These two boys, while not brothers in the strictest sense of the word, are very bonded to each other. Spatzi is a beautiful Siamese mix, and his companion of the last ten years is Spanky, a very handsome tuxedo cat. These are two of the gentlest souls you will ever meet. They are the text book example of well-behaved, loving cats. Spatzi is the more outgoing of the two, often greeting you at the door with a friendly meow and a leg rub. Spanky tends to be more laid back, often lounging in a bed or cat tree. He is easily approachable and loves to be petted and fawned over. Spatzi is in early renal insufficiency and is easily maintained with the fluids he is given twice weekly. Come and meet these two handsome boys and you will discover their purrfect personalities for yourself!
SPANKYDomestic Shorthair, Male
Color: Black w/White (Tuxedo)
Size: Medium
Born: July 1, 2008 (approx)
Special needs: none
These two boys, while not brothers in the strictest sense of the word, are very bonded to each other. Spatzi is a beautiful Siamese mix, and his companion of the last ten years is Spanky, a very handsome tuxedo cat. These are two of the gentlest souls you will ever meet. They are the text book example of well-behaved, loving cats. Spatzi is the more outgoing of the two, often greeting you at the door with a friendly meow and a leg rub. Spanky tends to be more laid back, often lounging in a bed or cat tree. He is easily approachable and loves to be petted and fawned over. Spanky has diabetes and receives twice daily insulin shots, but is quite well regulated. Come and meet these two handsome boys and you will discover their purrfect personalities for yourself!
PURCHASE OUR POTHOLDERS!Our potholders are POPULAR! They come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, primarily dog and cat prints, flowers, tea and coffee, kitchen and garden themes. They make excellent gifts, or buy them for your own kitchen. They come in sets of two, and are made of sturdy cotton fabrics with a mylar heat-shield center. For pricing, check with the vendor of your choice, listed below. You can find them at:
If you have a favorite fabric and would like to order custom potholders, contact Safe Haven at (360) 452-0414. We will do our very best to accommodate you.
CATNIP & SIP at our new venue: Fox Bell, April 6, 2019
EVENT PHOTOS
LUCY-ALICEShorthair Manx, Female
Color: Calico Tabby
Size: Medium
Born: October 8, 2010 (approx)
Special needs: Manx Syndrome (mild)
Lucy-Alice is an adorable, outgoing little short-hair calico mackerel tabby Manx with a white bib and green eyes. Born in October of 2010, Lucy-Alice was originally adopted from Safe Haven as a kitten. She returned to Safe Haven in March of 2014. She is very sweet and loving, craves attention, and is a gentle soul.
She did not display symptoms of Manx Syndrome, a condition affecting many Manx cats, until she was a year and a half old, and her issues are relatively mild. She loves having visitors, and thrives on the attention readily given to her. She is such a sweetheart and so full of love for people that it’s hard to leave after spending time with her. While we still hope that Lucy may find her own family to love and care for her, it is not likely. So, for the rest of her days, Lucy will enjoy her life with her beloved caregiver in the sunny warm rooms of Barker House.
LEO
When Leo went home, his new mom created a wonderful booklet of Leo’s first few days in his new home. Click on the first photo to the right to see the slide show. We think you will enjoy it as much as we did!
[lightbox thumb=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ThistleWebLarge.jpg” width=”200″ align=”left” title=”” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]THISTLE
THISTLE was born in March, 2003 and came to PFOA in July, 2003 with his twin brother, Fagin. He was a sleek, poly-dactyl neutered male with magnificent copper colored eyes and a sweet expression. Thistle especially enjoyed sitting on the back of the couch, both for the view and the closeness to his human friends.
As a special needs kitty, Thistle received regular medication to control his diabetes, kidney failure and hyperthyroidism. Sadly, on April 2, 2020, our beloved Thistle crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He will be very much missed by his past and current caregivers, as well as everyone at PFOA who knew and loved him.
His current caregiver, Tracy, was especially close to him. In her own words, this is how she remembers him.
“When I got to Barker House, Thistle was a very scared cat. I locked eyes with him on the second day I was there and I was in love. He was such a loving, kind and gentle boy. It took time but the trust he gave me melted me. We would go on walks around the house on the game trail, and say hi to the neighbors and their dogs. Thistle knew I would never let anything happen to him. I got very hard head bonks and cheek rubs on my face. He was a true house panther: sleek and mysterious, beautiful inside and out. I know he tried to stay with me and his brother Fagin. At the end, when he let me know it was time to say goodbye, I promised him I would take care of his brother. Not only did he have diabetes he was in kidney failure and hyperthyroid. We fought hard for a couple of months. I was privileged to spend an amazing 4 years with a truly amazing animal. He will forever have a place in my heart.”
FROM THE HOME FRONT
STORIES OF THE SAFE HAVEN KITTIES
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
FLICKA AND FRANKLIN
FROM THEIR SECOND STORY PORCH
OVERLOOKING THE DOWNSTAIRS CATIOS
Hi Everyone!
As you all know, our shelter is closed, which means that none of us kitties can have visitors, and our visitors can’t see how well we are all doing. So, we decided to write to all of you so that you would know we’re all OK, safe and healthy. And we hope you are too!
From our kitten room on the top floor of Safe Haven, we can go out on our screen porch and look down on all the adult kitties as they relax outside in their catios, enjoying the spring sun. When the sun shines, that is. It’s been pretty rainy lately, but occasionally we can catch one of our buddies sneaking out for a quick run in the catio.
We thought we would send this out every week to our volunteers and supporters. We miss seeing them, and we’ve heard that they feel the same way So stay tuned for weekly updates on life at Safe Haven.
We hope, for everyone’s sake, that this horrible virus won’t last too long! We miss all of you!
Affectionately,
Flicka and Franklin
[lightbox thumb=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/JulyWebLarge.jpg” width=”300″ align=”left” title=”” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]JULY (February, 2005 – February 9, 2020)
July—the name evokes memories of warm sunny days and bright fireworks and holiday fun. However, when this little tortie showed up at our doorstep late on a July Saturday in 2011 she was as quiet and cold as a January snow. Found under a bush in Carrie Blake Park, she was limp and dehydrated and suffering a traumatic injury to her spine—her rescuers thought she had been hit by a car. Already a middle-aged cat, we were not sure she would survive. We hoped for the best, and named her July.
After extensive emergency treatment, July’s condition stabilized, and she became a shelter favorite. She was sweet and funny and loved to lie in the sun in her catio. We rejoiced when she was adopted and were saddened when she came back to us several years later when her back injuries and subsequent arthritis became too severe for her owner to deal with.
With good meds and pain management and lots of TLC, July once again regained her mobility and lived with us for three more years. She became an office cat—living in harmony with Tippy and being pampered and spoiled by staff and volunteers. Many of our members came in just to say hello to July, and her last months were spent in her special orthopedic bed next to Danette, our Executive Director, who loved her dearly, as did all of the staff.
Though in hospice care for the past several months, July still enjoyed her pets and attention, a good meal, and lying in the sun till her last day with us. She happily meowed a greeting to us each morning and chatted her demands throughout the day. Her will to live and her indomitable spirit were an inspiration to us all. July was a ray of sunshine who brightened all of our lives, and Safe Haven seems a bit darker today without her warm presence.
President: Call to Order: Welcome Guests.
Secretary: April Minutes request for approval
Economic/financial update – Kurt Anderson
Approval for purchase of propane tank – Danette
Approval for distribution of Walker Max lifetime care fund – Marilyn
Spring/Summer Pet Tidings – Marilyn
Change of CPA – Marilyn
Annual Meeting Preparation – All
Executive Director: Danette
Treasurer: Marilyn
Media: Marilyn
Shelter: Nancy
Spay/Neuter: Sharon
[lightbox thumb=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MarcusWebLarge.jpg” link=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MarcusWebLarge.jpg” width=”400″ align=”left” title=”” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]A gorgeous longhaired, gray and white Maine Coon, Marcus came to PFOA in July of 2011. At the time, he had been cared for by an elderly woman. He was about ten years old.
He was diagnosed with diabetes shortly after his arrival, and the shelter quickly got it under control. “He’s my boy,” said Nancy Campbell, Shelter Director. “He’s so loving and so gentle. He’s very laid back.” Marcus had a quiet, easy going personality. For many of us, he was the all-time favorite PFOA cat.
Marcus spent the last few years of his life at Barker House, our home for special needs kitties, where he was adored by his caretaker, Tracy, as well. You just couldn’t help but love this gentle giant. He went about his day quietly, never complaining even though he received twice-daily shots of insulin. He got along with all the other cats in the house and the many hugs and rubs he received from everyone who knew him were rewarded with warm purrs and unconditional love.
As he approached his 17th year, Marcus began showing signs of his age. His medical needs were slowly increasing, and this senior gentle kitty was slowing down. But, in cat years, he was about 85 years old. He had earned the right to take life easy.
Marcus never met a stranger—human or feline. He would quietly walk away from a new hissing cat quietly as if to say “What is your problem?”. He was a wonderful ambassador for felines in general—in the kitty world Marcus should have been King!!
We are sad to announce that Marcus crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on October 16, 2018. He was very much loved by everyone whose lives he touched. He will be greatly missed.
After a rough start in life, Emmet was a very shy boy. No one could get near him. He spent his time at Safe Haven hiding. In warm weather, he had a hiding place in one of the cat-friendly structures in the patio area outside his room. When it turned cold, he hid under the couch inside. Finally, he found his forever home with a couple from Port Angeles, who was able to see through the shy exterior. They decided that Emmet should come home with them. Although it was difficult for him to adapt to new places, the couple was very patient with Emmet, and gradually he became more comfortable in his new home.
Then disaster struck! The couple had to move to Oregon and would be living in a camper. Concerned that the change in environment would be too difficult for Emmet, they reluctantly returned him to Safe Haven, where he resumed hiding under the couch. Gradually he would come out – mostly for food. Occasionally he would tolerate limited petting.
Many months later, Emmet was readopted by his original family, now living in a permanent home. On a sunny Sunday they made an all-day trip from Oregon to take him home. A few days later, we received an email from his new family: “We are very excited to report that tonight Emmet came out of his ladder cubby and sat with us to get some much needed petting and brushing … lots of brushing … fur everywhere. He even followed me out into the living room and looked out the patio door. He purred the whole time. He did not even jump when one of us got up to leave his room. But the most amazing thing is that he actually climbed up on our laps to be petted while we were sitting on the floor. He meowed and purred like before.”
Today was a very sad day at the shelter as we said goodbye to one of our beloved office cats, Tony the Tiger. Tony came to us five years ago after his owner died in a tragic fire, and it was believed that Tony had perished as well. Amazingly, Tony, minus one of his nine lives, surfaced a few days later covered with grease and soot, and came to live with us at Safe Haven.
Tony was quite depressed upon arrival and refused to eat. We soon discovered that his English caretaker had fed him only people food, and Tony felt that he should continue with that menu! After some negotiation, we worked through the diet dilemma, and Tony settled into shelter life with us seamlessly. With the exception of a short adoption when Tony “peed his way home,” he spent the rest of his years at Safe Haven. His days were spent sunning himself on the deck and lounging on the love seat or in his heated bed receiving pets and love from all comers. Kind and mannerly, Tony was a shelter favorite and a wonderful companion to Tippy and then Lexi, as well.
Shortly after coming to us, Tony was diagnosed with early kidney failure. Due to the best vet care and wonderful support provided by our staff, we were able to keep Tony doing well until the end. Always a sweet and gentle cat, Tony departed this life as graciously as he lived — in his home and surrounded by those he loved most. In spite of our sorrow, we celebrate his life and the joy he brought to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.