Recent Adoptions

In the last 2 weeks we've had a flurry of adoptions:

Tim has joined a new family and is busy winning over the resident cat.

Abbie has also found a new home with a family who recently had another torti die. Ms. Dot-on-the-head Abbie is a chatty little girl and she is charming them with her unique and clever personality.

James and Casper, unrelated to each other, came to Pet Haven from another shelter in MN and were adopted together.

Casper hid under the bathtub for a couple days but not Mr. make-myself-at-home James who loved exploring the new digs.

The 11 yr. old son engages them in active cat-person games which they both love. Casper enjoys peering out at your from under the afghan with just his head showing when he isn't playing around.

Blaine has joined a new family and is working on becoming friends with the resident cat and has already found a new friend in the newfoundland dog!

Max is off and running at his new home also after a day or two of hiding out in the basement. He is going to be joined by a dog later this year which we think he will love - another buddy to play with! The picture of Max shows him at one of his visits to Chuck and Don's Pet Food Store in Highland.

Since the middle of May we have placed 10 cats or kittens because of Chuck and Don's invitation to spotlight a Pet Haven cat at the Highland store. It has been a wonderful partnership for all of the families who have found a new cat and has allowed Pet Haven to help even more cats this summer - a time of the year when adoptions can be slow. If you see a cat at the Highland store that you are interested in, fill out an adoption application found at our website PetHavenMN.org and you will receive a prompt call in return.

We continue to hold regular adoption events twice a month, usually the first Sat. of the month and the third Sunday. Stop by and visit, check us out at PetHavenMN.org, click on Cats Available for Adoption.

New Volunteer Orientation

Our next New Volunteer Orientation will be on Saturday September 26th from 10 AM - Noon at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Pet Haven is extremely grateful to the Doubletree Hotel for hosting our new volunteer orientations and providing us with a great room at NO COST!

Whether you're brand new, or have been volunteering with us for a while, this orientation is a great way to find out more about Pet Haven and ways to get involved!

UC San Diego lists the following 10 ten reasons to volunteer:

#10 - It's good for you

#9 - It saves resources and provides a valuable community resource

#8 - Volunteers gain valuable experience

#7 - It brings people together

#6 - It promotes growth and self-esteem

#5 - Volunteers strengthen our community

#4 - You learn a lot

#3 - You get a chance to give back

#2 - Volunteering encourages civic responsibility

#1 - You make a difference ...

[Source: UC San Diego Community Service site]

At Pet Haven, we have the following to add to the list .....

- It's fun!

-We are a community with a shared passion for helping homeless dogs and cats

- We will provide you with opportunities to develop your leadership skills

- Even if you can't foster (although we would of course love it if you could!), we need foster buddies, help with transportation ... and need help in areas of fundraising, marketing, special events, administrative work, photography, writers, graphic design, phone work, advocacy, outreach/humane education, volunteer management, communication, and the list goes on!!

- If you are looking to enhance your resume, volunteering is a great way to make your resume stand out [check out the Pioneer Press article this past Sunday on "Volunteer Work just might set your resume apart"]

Our volunteer guiding principles are based on the 5C':

- Community

- Compassion

- Collaboration

- Creativity

- Communication

If you're already involved with Pet Haven but have never gone through an orientation .... this is a great way to learn more about other volunteer opportunities. If you're new to Pet Haven, come learn more about Pet Haven ... our vision, our mission, our philosophies, our approach, where are animals come from, upcoming events, the animal welfare landscape in Minnesota, the importance of spay/neuter ... and of course, how to get involved and start making a difference!

Email our volunteer director Jen at volunteer@pethavenmn.org to register for the session on Saturday!

Lover boy?

Are you looking for a lover boy? Ira, also known as Tenor for his 'talky' ways, might be the fellow for you.

We think he'd love to be an only cat although he gets along with another cat just fine too - after a very slow introduction during which he has lots of grumbling to do. He is fostered with two other cats.

Adoption events are tough for Ira - he's out of his element and not happy to see the other cats there - most of them aren't nearly as handsome as he is! Of course, that is a matter of opinion.

His foster parents would be happy to show him to you in their home so you can see all his cute ways. Ira is under a year old.

Pet Blanket Making Party

Can you cut with scissors and tie a basic knot? Then we need your help!

Pet Haven is having a get-together to make pet blankets that we'll sell at Twice the Gift (http://twicethegift.org/), the non-profit fundraising opportunity that we participated in last year and will be part of again this year.

We're meeting on Oct. 3 at the Minneapolis Washburn Public Library (http://www.hclib.org/AgenciesAction.cfm?agency=Wn) from 1-4:30 p.m. We'll provide the fleece and some refreshments/snacks. What we need are your hands, scissors (fabric scissors if you have them, regular scissors if you don't - just label them so you get them back!), and laughter!

Please RSVP by emailing outreach@pethavenmn.org if you can join us, and feel free to bring a friend! We need all the help we can get!

Thank you!!!

Cynthia Farrell
Director of Outreach

Newer kids

Kati is one of the girls who came to us this summer when her home was foreclosed on.

She and a kitten of hers, who has since been adopted, were left behind and they came to Pet Haven to find a new home. Kati is a busy, playful girl.

She plays a lot and loves to be around you. She isn't much of a cuddler although you can hold her in your arms like a baby. She purrs and purrs, even when she wants to get down. Kati plays a little roughly - she'll invite you to give her a tummy rub but finds it over-stimulating and will nip then.

Kati hopes someone will want to see her in her foster home because she is very stressed and grumbly at adoption events - it's hard to be on display when you aren't the kind of girl who would choose to go to the store to be adopted. Her pleasant personality is best enjoyed at home.

James and Casper are newbies to our adoption program also. Both are easy going fellows. Casper does well with another cat who isn't too wild and crazy - he wants that limelight to be his own. He runs through the house with his catnip strawberry in his mouth and stretches out on the floor to relax.





James is very easy-going, good with another cat, a small dog, children, adults - all's fine in his world. He and Casper came from the same shelter and go well together but do not have to be adopted together.

Adoptions, Sat. and Sun.!

Don't forget to stop by an adoption this weekend. Cats and kittens searching for homes, most cats under 3 yrs of age, kittens in the 4-5 month old range. Two who are declawed in the front.

Some of those attending are:

Sat. Chuck and Don's on W Lake St.

Leslie, Gerry, Daisy, Missy and a couple more.

Sun. PetCo Richfield, 66th and Lyndale Ave. S

Ted, Ira, Brooklyn, Missy, Sawyer, Helen, and more orange kittens!

Do you remember Alana? She was the only survivor from her litter when the others were stomped to death at a dump. Alana has a new home and a new friend to play with - as well as trying to take over the whole bed at night! A new name is on the way but hasn't been decided on.

A busy week ahead

New kittens have been taken into foster care, ranging in age from 2 months to 6-8 months. Not all have been to the vet yet for testing and shots, some will go in this week and then continue with dewormings and get on the spay/neuter schedule.

In the meantime - never fear! We have cats and kittens available for adoption and will have two adoptions next weekend.

Sat. Sept. 12 from 11-1 at the Chuck and Don's location on W Lake St. near Lake Calhoun.

Sun., Sept. 13 from 1-3 p.m at the PetCo in Richfield at 66th and Lyndale Ave. S.

Daisy, Tansy, Teresa, Talbot and Tim are all looking for a forever home - kittens in the 5 month old range. They are all well socialized, playful, busy kids who have been with another kitten or cat and with a small or medium sized dog.

Pretzel and Wakota are two females who recently came to us at about 9 months and 16 months of age. They are playful and friendly also.

Missy is looking for a home - we just discovered today that she seems to want a man's lap in her life. While she has stood on her foster mom's lap and enjoyed being pet, she snuggled right down on the man's lap and made herself at home - purring, kneading, happy as a cat in a lap. Missy is of unknown age - probably 10-14 yrs. She's a healthy girl, her teeth have mostly been removed, and she recently had a thyroidectomy when there was a growth on one side that was causing her to lose weight. She needs no medication, her kidney and liver values are great. Do you know of someone - perhaps a gentleman - who is a little more housebound and would love an easy going companion? Someone who works from home and would love the extra company?Someone who needs a companion in the day or evening? Missy might be the right girl. She's not overly demanding but loves to keep you company and have you talk to her.

Others to keep your eye on are:

Casper or Mr. Potter as he is called in his foster home:

James is a new addition too.

Don't forget Nikita Banana!

Check out the continuing rotation of cats or kittens at the Highland Chuck and Don's too.

Need a 'bear' in your life?

We're not sure how many gray bears there are in the wild but Teddy Bear is not in the wild and is a handsome, LARGE (read 'too fat') fellow. He isn't a little boy physically but is definitely a 'chunk'.

He's quite the lover and can't get enough of his fosters attention. He'll help with the computer tasks, cleaning, following you around and lap time is great too!

Teddy was adopted from Pet Haven about 5 yrs. ago which makes him 7 yrs. old now. He is front declawed.

He's on a diet - measured amounts of food of a weight watchers formula and he will be much more active and comfortable if his new owner will help him lose a few pounds!

Cats for adoption - Chuck and Don's in Highland

Max is shown in the condo that Pet Haven has at the Chuck and Don's in Highland. He's a relaxed boy there but loves to play and romp - have another young cat? He'd really like a companion fellow or girl to bounce around and play games of chase. Have a laser light? He enjoys playing with that - and fishing pole type toys too!

Here are some of the kittens who will be taking turns there over the next week or two - Abbie, Blaine, Tim and Tansy. Orange? We've got orange! Girls? Boys? Got that covered too! Kittens who get along with another cat or kitten or could go as an only cat - the possibilities are endless. Loving, fun, well socialized - adoptable.

Adoption weekend

Chablis and Alana found homes at the first large group MnPAW adoption on Sat. It was held Sat., 8/22 at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley and other groups attending were AHS cats and dogs, RAGOM, It's a Rotta Love Plus, MNSNP and Pet Haven dogs. A number of dogs had home visits scheduled or were adopted then too.

Ms Monkey who has the cutest tail we've seen so far, was adopted from the Chuck and Don's in Highland today also.

Max is visiting at the Chuck and Don's now and welcomes visitors. He's a friendly and busy boy who loves another active cat to play with and gets along with the small dog in the foster home. He's personable, likes to be with you and especially likes to snooze on top of the refrigerator - he'll even dust it off for you!

Sat. 8/22, MnPAW Adoption

On Saturday Pet Haven will participate in the first group adoption of the new coalition, MnPAW. The time is from 10-4 and the location is at the Animal Humane Society auditorium at 845 Meadow Lane in Golden Valley.

Pet Haven cats will be there on a 2 hour rotation during the day and the dogs will be there on a 3 hour rotation. Other MnPAW groups are participating also so there will be many wonderful cats and dogs looking for forever homes.

Stop by, learn about the coalition, meet the animals and adopt if you are ready and you find a good match!

Some of the cats who will be there are Kati, Riley, Max, Daisy, Alana, Tim Tim, Nick, Brooklyn and many others.

Alana says hello - it will be her first adoption event.

Leslie - takes over as 'Greeter'

If you stopped by a Pet Haven cat adoption earlier this year you will remember Moose. He was always friendly, ready for a pat or tummy rub.

Leslie has taken over that job now that Moose has found a home! He's big and brown instead of big and black. He has big, chubby cheeks and there's lots of him to stroke and pat AND he loves to talk to you.

Moose was missing an ear flap - Leslie is missing a rear back leg. We don't think that has anything to do with what makes them great greeters but it is a little strange that they are alike in this way too.

So - stop by, visit, consider another Pet Haven cat or kitten OR Leslie, as a new member of your family!

Adoption events are hard -

Ira would like you to know that he is a very sweet fellow with lots of love and companionship to offer!

He is active and playful, gets along with the fosters two cats but it took awhile. Lots of hissing and grumbling on his part so we think he would love to be an only fellow. Because of the other cats present at adoption events, he finds those difficult too and you do not get a true impression of his wonderful personality.

Ira, also called Tenor, loves to play with you and by himself. He also loves hugs!

His foster parents would be happy to have an adopter see him in their home so you can see what a great little guy he is - and handsome too.

Weekends are busy!

Pet Haven cats will be busy this weekend. We hold two adoptions.

Sat. 8/15, 11-1 p.m.

Sun. 8/16, 1-3 p.m.

Both are at the PetCo in Richfield.

Stop by, see the cats and kittens, tell your friends, family or co-workers what wonderful cats we have and consider adopting!

Sat: Max, Tim Tim, Autumn, Kati, Koko, Helen, Serena and some of the other orange kittens.

Sun. Brooklyn, Daisy, Leslie (you'll hear him greeting you when you come in the door probably), Gerry, Daphne and Star.

Follow Les' voice and find us in the rear of the store near the dog collars and leashes - he doesn't want you to miss out.

Multi- Agency Adoption Event: August 22nd

Pet Haven will be participating in the first MnPAW adoption event. Come on out to the Animal Humane Society (AHS) in Golden Valley on Saturday, August 22nd, from 10am to 4pm to meet and greet dogs from Pet Haven, AHS, RAGOM and A Rotta Love all in one place.

Click on the flyer to enlarge.
See the MnPAW website for more information.

Highland Chuck and Don's

Brenda was most recently at Chuck and Don's and it appears she will have a new home soon.

Elsie is there now - she's a very cute black and white short haired girl who loves to play. We think she'd prefer to be an only cat. She's adaptable and affectionate and easily identified by her shorter than normal eartips since she was abandoned outside last winter. Elsie holds no grudges though - she just loves people.

Next week we'll try Autumn there - she has all those beautiful fall colors and is quite the cute girl. Playful, young, loves her toys and very people oriented. Probably ok with a respectful dog and another cat.

Panther is still missing. If you live, work or travel in the area of Lone Oak Rd and Lone Oak Ln. in Eagan, please contact Pet Haven, 952-831-3825, or a volunteer to notify us of any sightings of him! Mary Ann 763-559-3976

Panther is lost - can you help?

Panther was recently adopted and lives at 14xx Lone Oak Ln. in Eagan MN 55121. He broke out of the screen on Aug. 3 and his new owner, her mother and Pet Haven volunteers have been searching for him.

Panther is probably too shy to come to you but if you see this large-sized black fellow with a burly body and big cheeks, please give one of us a call! Panther has spent a number of years on the streets - we don't want that to happen again to this wonderful fellow!

Anne 651-454-5038

Kannika 612-823-0528

Mary Ann 763-559-3976

Kim 651-552-8825

His Home Again microchip number is: 493 66F 6965

Let's bring that boy home.

Photo Credit: Sarah Beth Photography

Newer girls

Monkey will be coming to adoptions soon. She is a very cute torti and has a tail that curves over her back and then it hangs in a curl along her side! She had a litter of kittens, they've been adopted and now it is her turn. Her foster thinks she is young, she is very playful and loves attention and gets along with another cat. The vet guessed her at a year +. Look at her dark fur outlining her mouth - it almost looks like a smile.

Alana is a little girl with lots of spunk and spirit. She came from Red Lake and loved the two dogs in her temporary foster home immediately. Legs waving, tummy being nuzzled. She can be a little intimidating with another cat as she comes on very enthusiastically for such a petite thing.

Alana was found at the dump, the rest of her siblings had been stomped to death. This little girl is so fast, I'm sure that the perpetrator was not coordinated enough to kill her. We hope Alana will have a long and healthy life with a dog or two of her own and to be kept inside, safe from harm. She will be ready for adoption after her spay the middle of August.

Many other cats and kittens are waiting for forever homes now. Looking for orange? We continue to have more orange cats and kittens; a couple of tortis; black, brown tabbies; black and white - you name it - we've probably got it.

At our first two adoptions in August, we found homes for 4 cats and kittens. That's a wonderful start to the month and we have already brought in a litter of 4 kittens and hope to bring in some others too. Thank you to all of you who adopt a rescued cat or dog! When that happens, we can help another one. Your support as a volunteer or donor makes a world of difference to one companion animal at a time.

Adoption Sat., 8/1, 2 locations

Pet Haven cats will have two adoptions this Sat. from 11-1 p.m.

We will be at the Chuck and Don's in Bloomington at 8417 Lyndale Ave. S. and

at the Richfield PetCo at 66th and Lyndale Ave. S.

Looking forward to seeing:

Gerry

Leslie

Daisy

Fudge

Malia

Max

Dewey

more orange kittens -

and others!

Adoptions in July

We've had a good month finding homes for cats and kittens!

Bo

Kobe

Midge

Buster

Ty

Noddy

Shelby, aka Sid the Kid

Linden

Mitsie

Mason

Georgina and Sabrina are all in new, forever homes.

Who is left, you might ask?

Max - full of energy and lots of lovin', a playful boy who wants a playmate -

Gerry - a beauty with a big fluffy tail who is very playful and likes tummy rubs -

Koko - top birdwatcher and purr-girl -

Helen - quite the beauty who loves to be pet - -

Monkey - wait till you see that tail!

Les - a big hunk of a guy who loves to snuggle and talk -

Nick - also a giver of hugs and lap time, ok with a dog

And many others! Cats and kittens galore - they're in foster homes and we can tell you about their personalities, clever antics, how they get along with another cat and lots more. PetHavenMN.org, click on cats available for adoption.

Sunday, July 26, 1-3 p.m.

Malia wonders if you will be coming?

Pet Haven cats will hold two adoptions during this time. We will be at:

Chuck and Don's Bloomington, 8417 Lyndale Ave. S and

PetCo Richfield, 66th and Lyndale Ave. S.

Who will be there?

Fudge, Max, Brenda, kittens

Ira, Koko, Georgina, Nick, Gerry, Leslie (first show), kittens - and at least 9 others!

Happy Tails -

Dear Pet Haven,

We just wanted to give you an update on two kittens, now one year old cats, we adopted in November 2008 from an adoption site at Richfield PetCo. Theo and Didi (formerly Dora) were approximately four months old when my husband, Bill, and I decided to bring them home.

I was initially dead set on adopting an older cat, but little Didi stole my husband's hear. Her loud purrrr and playfulness spoiled my plan and the next thing I knew we were signing papers.

However, it didn't end there.

As we were preparing to gather our new kitten, the foster parent of Theo approached me and introduced me to a sweet, bright eyed guy with only three legs. Being a nurse I knew I wanted this kitten.

Like Didi he was an orange tabby and the same age but they were not litter mates. With some encouragement from Pet Haven staffers we took both of them home only to realize on the first night how much Theo was not happy with his fellow adoptee. He hissed, growled, and hid under a table. That night I slept in one bedroom with Theo and my husband slept in another with Did. We got up the next morning wondering "what on earth were we thinking?". Heading to work that day I was sad to think we may have to return one if Theo didn't come around. However, these two cats figured it out on their own and two evenings after we brought them home they were both sleeping with us and now act as if they were litter mates.

One would never know Theo has only three legs, especially when he runs. He loves being held, comes when called and has his own camp chair on our porch, which he will occasionally share with Didi.

She loves to be near my husband and "hangs" with him in the home office. I can't imagine just having one of them, because they are like peas in a pod..

Thank you and all of your foster volunteers for saving lives and the caring you do, not only for our most beloved cats, but the thousands of animls needing homes. We are in earnest.

Best regards,

Kari and Bill

Theo came to Pet Haven from a farm and made his way to the cities. His foster contacted Pet Haven and asked if we could help him if she would care for him because he had a stump for one rear leg that he tried to use and it was scabby and had open wounds on it. Theo had the usual parasites and fleas which were taken care of and on his 2nd vet visit came to have the stump amputated and he was neutered at that time. No one knew whether Theo's injury was a birth defect or an injury.

Max has gone a-visiting.

Max has gone to stay at Chuck and Don's in Highland for a few days.

He's an active, curious and affectionate fellow who loves to play, wants to check out all the potential toys and loves to help around the house. He climbs the ladder to the top of the bunk bed; he knows how to open the q tip dispenser and take one out to play with - do you think he could learn to load the dishwasher?

Max would love to have another cat who would play and romp with him and then he'll play with you when you come home and have some snuggle time too. He's living with a small dog and other cats and kittens in his foster home.

July Adoptions

Historically Pet Haven cats has found that July is not always a kind month for adoptions - folks are on vacation, they play softball, they are going to family reunions.

We are excited and pleased that this July has been different for us! So far this month we have placed 9 cats and kittens with 3 or 4 more recently adopted.

This is Bo, who didn't make it to the website before being adopted.

Some were seen on the website and adopted through a contact with the foster home, some seen on the blog, some seen and adopted after being seen at the Chuck and Don's in Highland, a couple of others were adopted after they found their first cat through Pet Haven and came looking for another one.

Bo, Kobe, Midge, Buster, Ty, Noddy and Shelby are all doing well in their new homes. 3 others were just recently adopted so we haven't had that long to hear back about how things are going.

This is all good news. Pet Haven had the potential for 16 kittens to be ready for adoption by the 2nd week in July. That's a lot of kittens who could be growing up in foster homes and we are excited that their owners will now get to enjoy their antics.

The other piece of good news is that we have been able to take in a few more kittens and cats because of their adoptions. The bad news is that there are still so many waiting in impound, shelters and on the street.

Just yesterday, someone called who has had a stray, neutered male cat in their neighborhood for 12 years they believe. Last winter was very hard for him. Someone needs to step forward and help this fellow - hopefully he will survive his many trips crossing streets with cars coming this summer and we or another group or person will step up and take him in. The right spot has not opened yet at Pet Haven.

Please keep spreading the word to friends, family and co-workers about how many cats need homes and that Pet Haven's foster home system has lots to recommend in the way of helping you find the personality and activity level that you and your family want.

Leslie - back with Pet Haven

Some of you may remember this fellow. He came to Pet Haven with injuries and had to have a rear leg amputated. He went home but came back when he broke through the screens to chase a dog or just to explore and was having some pain episodes too.

Since then, life has settled down. His foster mom doesn't open the window far enough for him to get to the screens, for one thing. He loves to sit by the window and sniff the air, watch the bunnies, birds and chippies and he also watches the dog next door without seeming terribly ruffled up.

His pain episodes have gone away.

He's turned into quite the lap fellow.

He also enjoys a good rough-housing with another cat. Mr. Brown tolerates him quite well and is willing to even give him a kiss once the fighting is over with. Leslie would not do well with every cat but could be a much loved only boy so he wouldn't have to compete for lap time.

Because he is a burly, well-muscled boy and we want to keep as much strain off his remaining back leg, he is on a diet. It is not his favorite thing.

Les loves to talk and he will tell you he is starving! His foster thinks it would be best to give him a timed feeding bowl so it would open at set times without your help and his bag of food should be kept out of the kitchen, perhaps in a closet that isn't close to where you like to spend time so he doesn't go and scold the closet for keeping his food locked up!

Life on the street is hard. Being hit by a car or truck, having a compound fracture of a rear leg that is badly infected and not being able to drag yourself away after you urinate is not something Leslie would choose to have gone through. He's had some dental work also - to remove a tooth that was fractured. That wasn't so bad in the whole scheme of things.

He's sassy, fit and ready to find his forever home.