To all animal lovers:
There have been negative comments made about Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary regarding what they have done and what they are planning. Safe Haven will be a No-Kill Shelter! "No-Kill" means that animals are not destroyed except in cases of terminal and painful illness, when compassion demands euthanasia because there is no reasonable alternative." This quote is directly from the website of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, "(the alpha and omega of nonprofit animal rescues}" per Carol Roberts in a previous editorial post to the Cape Gazette. Since Safe Haven will operate under a no-kill philosophy the comments from people like Carol Roberts opposing Safe Haven can be interpreted to be a position against no-kill shelters.
When the love of my life Myton, my beautiful Sheltie, was diagnosed with GME my husband and I were devastated, not by the fact that a disease like this would ravage his central nervous system, but by the fact that we couldn't let him suffer his every waking moment. We came to the realization that we would have to let out MyMy go. We had often talked about what we would do if our pets became so ill that life wasn't ever going to be the life they knew. Euthanizing was never an option until MyMy. That was five years ago and while writing this I am crying. Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary will be No-Kill in every sense except with cases like my beautiful MyMy where end of life is imminent and quality of life is gone.
As to what Safe Haven has done or will do, it is not an operating entity at this time. Yet they have organized and executed collection of rescued animals and delivered them to running No-Kill shelters in Maine so that they will be adopted into forever homes. They have helped other organizations in need with volunteers. Do they or can they do everything for everyone, no and I think reasonable minds understand this. Setting up an operation on the scale envisioned by Safe Haven does not happen overnight and the pitfalls of starting too soon are the failure of the operation and a loss of hope for many many animals in the future.
If you go to the Best Friends website you will read about all their projects and activities, not just rescue. To have the kind of influence and impact they have you must be a significant presence in the community and that is what Safe Haven is working toward. Having political influence and input to policy and legislation will not happen overnight and a professional and organized appearance will be needed. Safe Haven will be a significant presence in the animal rescue/protection in Delaware and the surrounding area. Everyone will have to remain patient and continue with their efforts. Safe Haven is not here to replace other rescues, they are going to take the effort to a new level, one that involves more people and resources than have been focused on the important issue of animal protection in the past.
Rita Hughes, Safe Haven Volunteer
