A Letter from the President
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The Animal Haven’s 75th Anniversary this year leaves a lot to celebrate – most especially the tens of thousands of cats and dogs through the years that were given a second chance at life and being loved. This is no small feat, and we owe it all to you, our generous and loyal supporters. To say “Thank You,” The Animal Haven invites you to join us on the North Haven Green this Saturday, July 15 (rain date Sunday, July 23) from 12 pm to 3 pm for a celebratory event. There will be live music, animal-inspired art, games, vendors, food, and more. This community-wide, dog-friendly* event is being sponsored by local businesses and organizations, including our Gold Sponsors Coldwell Banker Realty and CT Custom Aquatics and our Silver Sponsors Connex Credit Union and Carolyn’s Transport. A BIG thank you to our sponsors and all our friends for helping us celebrate this momentous occasion. We hope to see you on July 15!
*If you bring your dog to the event, please also bring an up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate (required by The Town of North Haven).
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Howard and Stuart Goffin Leave An Extremely Generous Gift To The Animal Haven |  | Howard Goffin lived a quiet, humble life in his Wallingford home. With no immediate family, Howard relied on loyal friends – human and animal – for support and companionship. His greatest joy, according to his lawyer, Steven Allinson, were the pets he kept throughout the years. Most recently, “Howard wanted a dog, but he had mobility problems,” Allinson said. “He decided on parakeets instead and ended up with four! He loved his parakeets and took great care of them.” When Howard passed away in March, he turned his love for animals into a very significant bequest to The Animal Haven. Howard’s brother, Stuart, who died in 2016, left his estate and other holdings to Howard, who in turn made The Animal Haven his only beneficiary. “The Animal Haven is overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of Howard and Stuart Goffin,” said President Linda Marino. “We are extremely grateful for this gift, which will have a huge impact on the lives of many animals by helping to ensure that The Animal Haven continues its lifesaving work for years to come.” | Click below for information regarding leaving a gift to The Animal Haven in your will and The Animal Haven Legacy Society. | |
Focus On: Mocha
Mocha, an eight-year-old French bulldog mix, was abandoned at a veterinary hospital in bad shape from years of overbreeding and subsequent pyometra, a painful uterine infection. Refusing to euthanize her, the hospital asked if we could save the underfed, severely ill dog. Just weeks later, Mocha has recovered from surgery, gained weight, and is a friendly, lovable dog ready for adoption. She weighs about 15 pounds, is adored by everyone at the shelter, and loves to cuddle. Mocha would do best in a home without other animals. If you are interested in adopting Mocha, fill out an application on our website.
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Pet Story of the Month: Petey |
 |  | It was more than three years ago that we took in Neegan before he was going to be euthanized. His former owners abandoned him because they could no longer afford the medication for his skin condition. He was scared, in pain, confused, and starving. It took a very long time, but we never gave up finding Neegan a new home. The four-year-old Pitbull, now called Petey, was adopted by Suzanne and Paul and their daughter, Krista, of Wallingford, after they found him on Petfinder. “He just stood out in his photos. There was one where he was in a kiddie pool and we thought, "Oh, a water dog!” said Krista. “We had to check him out.” Krista said the family didn’t know what to expect when they arrived at the shelter. ”He was a little big, but he loved to play and from that moment we knew we had to have him,” she said. Krista said The Animal Haven “took great care of him for three years and gave him lots of training.” Petey is “the biggest cuddle bug ever,” showing his new family how loving and affectionate he is. We are so happy that Suzanne, Paul and Krista found Neegan on Petfinder and are giving him such a wonderful and loving home!
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Volunteer Spotlight
Charlene Logan
Volunteering for an animal shelter isn’t always about taking care of abandoned cats and dogs. It’s also about doing administrative work, fundraising, and planning events, among other things. This Saturday, July 15, The Animal Haven is holding an event on the North Haven Green to celebrate its 75th anniversary and to thank the community for its support. The event is happening, in large part, to volunteer Charlene Logan, of North Haven (with Remi, above). Charlene, just one of the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to coordinate the festival, was usually the first to say “I’ll do it!” whenever a task was presented. Joining our volunteer corps in February, the retired radiologic technologist jumped right in to determine what was required by the town’s public works and police departments regarding electrical needs, food vendors and safety issues. “I’ve basically been doing errands, pickups and whatever is necessary,” she said. “I live in North Haven and am retired so it’s not a big deal to do these things. I know what it’s like when you need some help. I appreciate that in The Animal Haven’s volunteer application, it stresses that commitment is needed. It really needs to be said so people understand, especially because it affects the care of the animals.” Eventually, Charlene said she hopes to work with animals at the shelter as she loves cats and dogs but does not have a pet right now. “I figured I could get my ‘fix’ while helping out,” she said. “The best reward for me is seeing a successful outcome for whatever I am doing. I can’t wait for the celebration.” In the meantime, Charlene, we celebrate you!
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Hours of operation: Adoption by appointment only due to COVID-19.
If you are interested in one of the animals at the shelter, please fill out and submit an application on our website. If your application is approved, we will be in touch to schedule an appointment. Thank you.
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