February 27, 2015
Dear Reader,

In today's Union Leader there was a wonderful article about our Safe Haven program. (Shelter offers 'Safe Haven', page B1) highlighting some of the wonderful work that the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire (ARLNH) does for our community. We are very pleased that the Union Leader chose to give this article a prominent place. We do, however, need to offer a correction that we feel is important to the integrity of the program.

The animals featured are not part of the ARLNH Safe Haven program. Safe Haven is a highly confidential program. The animals cared for through that program may not even be housed at the shelter and, if they are, they are in a non-public environment. Additionally, most of the employees working with the Safe Haven animals do not have information about the families involved and are trained to keep confidential the fact that we have Safe Haven animals. 

The animals pictured in the Union Leader article are residents of ARLNH and they are available for adoption. They do represent typical Safe Haven animals but are not, or ever have been, part of the Safe Haven program. When asked by the Union Leader to include some photos, we explained that we could not send photos of Safe Haven pets. We did send the photos included in the article and specified that they are of animals currently available for adoption.

This is important to clarify because we do not want people who may need this service to feel that they are at risk for having highly confidential information published. We want to assure advocates working against domestic violence, our supporters and the public that the pictures are not of animals in the Safe Haven program and that our Safe Haven program has only been compromised because of mistaken information and not in fact.

Please let us know if we can answer any questions about the Safe Haven program.

Sincerely,

  
 
Paula Mattis
 
President and CEO

ARLNH receives no Federal or State funding. We are solely dependent upon fundraising events and private donations to support our efforts toward improving animal welfare in our  community by helping pets and the people who care for them. Read our 2013 Annual Report.

Financial donations are critical and very much appreciated 
and there are many other ways to help as well. Find out more.