Girl Scout Pet Supply Drive

As part of Girl Scout Troop 10460 earning their Junior GS Bronze Award they have organized a drive to collect supplies for cats and dogs rescued by Pet Haven. Bins are available for your donation at the following two locations, and the drive will run through Sunday, 2/22.

- Calhoun Chuck and Don's Pet Food Outlet
- Richfield Petco (66th and Lyndale)

Please help make this a success for all!

Items needed include: Toys, food, treats, bedding, kitty litter, leashes and collars.

The cat division has a special request for the following as we get lots of orphan kittens during kitten season: Nutro canned kitten food, Royal Canin baby kitten/kitten food, Wellness or Innova/Evo dry food and canned Evo, Science Diet dry kitten food, plastic or soft-sided carriers (new or gently used).

Many thanks to the Girl Scouts for organizing and helping raise donations/supplies for homeless dogs and cats! And thanks to Chuck and Don's and Petco for participating in the supply drive!

Need a good book to read? Perhaps a cat to round out the family?

Join a select number of Pet Haven cats at Common Good Books in St. Paul on Sat. Jan. 31 from noon - 2:30.  The address is 165 Western Ave. N, Suite 14; St.  Paul MN 55102

The cats who will be there are:

Alex - a short haired, young male gray tabby

Snow - a 4.5 month old medium to long haired black and white female

Punkin - an 8 + month old medium haired orange tabby

Kelly - a 10 month old short haired black female

Nick - a couple years old, handsome and outgoing, orange tabby with short hair

Gerry - medium haired young black and white tuxedo female

Looking for one good with other cats?  one to be an only cat?  one who would do well with a dog?  one who will cuddle and be your close companion?  one a little more independent?  one who loves to play?  

You'll find what you are looking for in that selection and see  pictures and short bios of others we have for adoption.  

Photo credit: Sarah Beth Photography. Moose is currently up for adoption. For more info email cats@pethavenMN.org.

Black is beautiful!

In 2008 some of the black cats and kittens that you helped us find homes for were: 

Luther

Dove

Katie, Kyle and Kirk

Nestle and Morsel

Spanky

Missy 

and Blackberry  

Did you know that black cats and dogs are the most overlooked, 

least adopted,

most often euthanized?

This happens at shelters and impounds across the nation.  This very sad story even has a 'name': Black Dog and Cat Syndrome.  There are multiple places on the web where you can read about it.  

Pet Haven has declared February to be Black Cat and Dog Month.  Please spread the word!

 Help us find forever homes for the new black cats we have taken in this year and some of the ones who weren't adopted from our group from last year!  

By the end of this week, or the first of next week, you'll begin to see pix of cats who are black or almost black that we need to find homes for now.  You'll read about their clever and individual personalities and see beyond their color to realize they need homes too.  

Please pass this blog address on to the folks on your e mail list who need to know about our homeless kids.  

Update on Big Red

Big Red, formerly Elvis, has settled nicely in his foster home.  He's been accepted well by the fosters other 3 cats except for Maggie who is the 'crabby old lady' cat!  She isn't sure she really likes this new resident.  

Red has a favorite past-time.  He loves to bird watch.  Ahhh, you say - I know how that goes.  He sits near the window and looks out at the birds!  Well - almost.  

Red loves to catch birds on the refrigerator, their shadows.  Bet you've never seen that before but here's your chance - 

And Big Red did get adopted by his foster mom so he's settled for life.  One more 'senior' cat who has found a loving home.  

Cat Adoption at Common Good Books - 1/31

Common Good Books welcomes back Dr. Justine Lee, along with Pet Haven, to discuss her new book It's a Cat's World... You Just Live In It!

Justine will answer all the questions you ever wanted to ask about cats, but were afraid to ask. And Pet Haven will be on hand with several adorable, adoptable cats looking for their forever homes!

Come join us for some good feline fun!

Saturday, January 31 from 12:00 - 2:30pm

Common Good Books
165 Western Ave N, Suite 14
St. Paul, MN 55102

Visit our website to learn more about our adoptable cats..

S'more, Sundae and Zena

These pretty girls came from the hoarder's house too - They are in a foster home with another cat - we hope to get a picture of Buster with his new 'harem', all of the girls think he is the cat's meow!  Buster, of course, loves the attention too.  

S'more is a very cute, medium - long haired calico.  She startles at sudden moves or noises still but is seeking attention from the teen boys in the foster home and thinks Simon, the pug, is pretty nice too.  All of the girls find Simon acceptable.  

Zena is a very cute black and white girl with short hair.  She is outgoing and friendly.  

Sundae also shies at sudden noises but is fitting in well - all were recently found, one to a cushion, on the sofa, taking baths - they must have just eaten and had to tidy up.  

Soon they'll all be attending adoption events, looking for that perfect home.  If you are looking for a pair, all of the girls get along well with each other AND with another cat.  

Hoarding

People who hoard cats, usually women, generally have an obsessive-compulsive disorder.  They are likely to hoard other things besides cats; cool whip containers, newspapers, food, clothing, etc.  

Recently Pet Haven took some cats from a hoarder house.  All have them have been a little shy but all of them have been more than willing to use the litterbox.  We are always grateful when that happens because many hoarders have so many cats and so few litterboxes that they are not changed when they should be and the cat, in desperation, looks for another place to make into a litterbox.  Most are extremely grateful when they have a clean box and are more than willing to use it - these cats have had no problems adjusting. 

Snow is lazing on the rug, taking a break from playing.  
Snow and Knuffle are the two youngest kittens taken from the home.  Both had a bad upper respiratory infection and infected eyes, Knuffle also had an ulcer on her cornea.  After several rounds of different antibiotics and a stronger eye ointment, the colds and the ulcer have healed and both girls will be looking for homes soon.  

Because their coats were so dirty and greasy and they had sneezed all over themselves, their coats were shaved.  When they are fully grown out they will at least be medium hairs and maybe long hairs.  

Both girls are black and white.  Snow has a wedge of black under one side of her chin.  Knuffle has a black spot under her chin.  Knuffle is quite the chatty girl and both play actively and seek attention.  

Keep watching - more of the older kittens and cats will be coming to the blog soon!

Sat. 1/3, 11-1p.m. Adoption!

We'll be braving the precipitation to bring you some wonderful cats.  There are 15 on the list who are slated to come ranging in age from 9 yrs.  to kittens in the 5-9 month range. 

Bart, who is a silver shaded Persian, his coat is at least 1/2 grown back and he's looking might handsome,  

and  Sadie!

Both Bart and Sadie are front paw declawed, gentle, relaxed, great companions who love some attention, like to play and will share conversations with you.  They'll welcome you home and sympathize about that cold weather and the terrible traffic.  Need someone to watch tv with or take a snooze?  They'll volunteer for that tough duty too.  

Kittens, including:

Baker,

Kiki, Kelly (two black sisters).  

Kiki is shown with her good buddy, Zelda.  And, let's not forget playful Ernie!  He's great at finding lost toys - 

Others attending:  Koko, Helen, Serena, Gerry, Teddy, Riley, Hannah and Buster (great together or with another cat), Nick and Pazazz.  (whoops!  I think that's 16 who are coming.)  Lots of choices, plenty of fun.  

Happy New Year and Thank You!

As we begin 2009 I wanted to take the time to thank all our volunteers and supporters for all you have given and done on behalf of abandoned, abused and neglected animals. I am honored to be serving my second term as President of Pet Haven and to be part of an incredible group of passionate and compassionate people. Words cannot do justice for the spirit of fire inherent in so many I have met over the past year – from volunteers to adopters to partners to members and supporters. From the bottom of my heart… thank you!

Our mission has four key components, all of which are equally important: 1) to rescue and re-home dogs and cats, 2) spay and neuter, 3) promote responsible care of companion animals through education, and 4) advocate on behalf of companion animals. I am so proud of what we have been able to do together this past year on behalf of homeless animals. Without your support Pet Haven would not be able to continue our work.

Every dog, cat, puppy and kitten who came through our foster program was truly given a second chance. And in the process they touched the hearts of so many. As critical as our adoption program is, we cannot adopt our way out of the pet overpopulation and we remain committed to spay/neuter efforts. In 2008, Pet Haven distributed over $16,000 in spay/neuter grants to other rescues. Our largest fundraiser and our second Fall Benefit was a huge success raising over $20,000 which goes directly towards helping homeless animals. Our Outreach team has been extremely busy with helping spread the word about responsible companion animal ownership, the importance of spay/neuter, the overpopulation crisis, black dog and black cat syndrome and myths around bully breeds. Most recently, Pet Haven partnered with Twice the Gift in a holiday fundraiser and raised over $2600. Many thanks to volunteers and the Pohlad Family Foundation for making it a big success! And in 2008, our advocacy team has been gearing up and will be actively involved in efforts around puppy and kitten mill legislation.

I look forward to 2009 and what we together as a community can do on behalf of homeless animals. Thank you for caring. Thank you for giving so much of yourselves. And thank you for believing that yes, we all can, and do, make a difference not only in the lives of companion animals, but for each other.

With deep gratitude,
Marilou Chanrasmi
Marilou@pethavenmn.org