On Friday, March 25, I attended Animal Haven's Open House to meet some larger adoptable dog NYC breeds. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgable about each and every dog that was brought to meet the 40-person crowd of all ages. Some attendees were in the process of adopting a particular dog, others were looking for their best furfriend, and even more came to play with the dogs.
Pei Pei Cheng-de Castro, a customer playing with one of the dogs, was specifically looking to adopt a large breed dog and has been searching for a while for her perfect match. She's been to Bide-a-wee and Biscuits & Bath as well, and wants her new adoptee to be a playmate for her mini poodle.
Nicole, a young married woman living in a one bedroom apartment in midtown and has two male cats and a sharpei mix, was looking to adopt Emily Dickenson, a female cat, from Animal Haven. She said she and her husband definitely have the room for another cat and certainly enough love for all of their pets.
Animal Haven, which is open seven days a week, has about 20 dogs and 20 cats each week available for adoption and averages approximately 70 adoptions per month, according to Jennifer Bristol, Senior Director of Operations for Animal Haven. Dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes can be found on the website – and then met in person at the shelter.
Working with a vet tech to help take care of the animals, from head to paw, when they first come into the shelter, Animal Haven also works with NYC's Animal Care & Control, a shelter in Newark, N.J., another shelter in Georgia, and takes in owner surrenders and strays as well.
Mark Major and Erin Heidt-Forsythe recently adopted Penny, a three-month old lab-pit mix, and renamed her Sloane. They live in a Jersey City pet-friendly apartment building that has two dog parks nearby. They initially came to Animal Haven when they found out one of their neighbors was a volunteer at the shelter.
Every Saturday, Animal Haven sponsors a Small Dog Meetup Playgroup for $7 per person from 1:45pm to 2:45pm, for small dogs (under 20 pounds) to socialize and get exercise. Erika Searl, one of the Doggie Moms of NYC was at the evening's event as well and attends the playgroup every now and then with her Animal Haven adoptee, Cubby. She says she supports the shelter as much as and as often as she can, since she found her best friend there.
One hundred percent of proceeds from the sale of items (food, toys, clothes, etc.) on Animal Haven's first floor store, go back to the shelter to help care for the animals. In addition to donations, Animal Haven has a wish list on Amazon.com of items needed to help their intake of the dogs and cats. Click here for the list can be found at.
If you'd like to volunteer at the shelter, you'll need to go through an orientation class. For more information, please contact the shelter directly at (212) 274-8511.
Animal Haven: 251 Centre St., between Broome & Grand Sts.
