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DESERT HAVEN
ANIMAL REFUGE
A NO-KILL FACILITY
Founded in May 1999 under the umbrella of the Sierra County
Humane Society, Desert Haven Animal Refuge opened its doors in
December 2001 to the homeless, the neglected, the handicapped
and the unwanted domestic animals of Sierra County. It is operated and maintained by The Sierra County Humane
Society, a non-profit 501-C-3 corporation dedicated to the
welfare of animals and governed by an all-volunteer Board of
Directors.
MISSION
of the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven Animal
Refuge: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Relief of Animal
Suffering, Extension of Humane Education.
DESERT
HAVEN ANIMAL REFUGE is open for visitors every Tuesday from
9AM to 4 PM, except Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Animals may
also be visited by appointment. For more information, contact
us at 505-894-1937. Our physical address is: Desert Haven Animal
Refuge, HC 31, Box 42, Williamsburg, New Mexico 87942. We can
also be reached at PO Box 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942. To all
e-mail aficionados, you can reach us via e-mail at
aubin29@zianet.com.
DESERT
HAVEN OPERATES as a home-like environment for all companion
animals who are taken in on a space available basis. Since
Desert Haven Animal Refuge is a no-kill facility, it must
operate under specific guidelines, so as to continue to provide
a true "Haven of Compassion in the Heart of Desert Country" for
the unwanted domestic animals that come our way. Because Desert
Haven must be self-sufficient and also because of a constant
need for funding on a permanent basis, we are careful to take in
only the number of animals that we can afford to provide for on
a long-term basis.
All
animals who arrive at Desert Haven can be guaranteed a new home
or a good life at the no-kill facility, where they will never
again be alone, hungry or afraid. Except in extreme
circumstances, when the animal is a danger to himself or to
others, or has lost the quality of life, all animals who are
taken in live at the no-kill facility until they are adopted out
or to the end of their natural life.
Our dogs
reside at DOG TOWN, which includes THE INN, an insulated
building providing individual sleeping quarters with an
indoor-outdoor section and access to community exercise areas
that allow our canine residents to enjoy life together with
other dogs, yet be separate, if necessary, from other groups of
various sizes and temperament. The house-trained dogs who prefer
to live in the comfort of a human home are housed in "GENE'S DOG
HOUSE," with free access to the "Pooch Play Yard."
All play
areas enjoy shady spots, cabanas, platforms, etc., enough for
all the dogs to play, exercise, and nap in the fresh air, in
plain view of potential adopters and of visitors who come to
groom them and give them individual attention.
CATS
live in the "COOL CAT NEIGHBORHOOD," a 1200 square feet, 10 ft
high all-enclosed indoor-outdoor area, which includes indoor
sleeping quarters with a picture window and a private and cozy
condo for every feline resident. It also includes a spacious Cat
Patio and Cat Walks with cat jungle gyms, Cat's Meows, ramps,
look-outs, high gang-ways and more.
BIRDLAND & ANIMAL HOUSE is the all-enclosed housing for our
feathered friends, as well as for the small furry creatures that
are relinquished to our care. Rabbits, guinea pigs, miniature
chickens, ring-neck and white doves, peacocks and more, all live
in harmony together in what some of our volunteers call "The
Peaceable Kingdom."
HEALTH
AND WELLNESS is a top priority for all the animals who
reside at Desert Haven. With that in mind, the dogs' and cats'
vaccinations are kept up to date and a neuter or spay operation
is performed soon after arrival.
OUR
CURRENT ADOPTION FEES ARE: $65.00 for either a cat or a dog,
regardless of the size. Our adoption fee for our ring-neck doves
is $30.00 for 3 doves. Guinea Pigs are adopted out in groups of
three for $30.00 as well. All guinea pigs must be of the same
sex. We do not adopt out any other bird or animal at this time.
WE ARE
CAREFUL TO WHOM WE ADOPT our companion animals and birds and
questionnaires are required of each potential adopter.
NOT
PHYSICALLY ABLE TO ADOPT a companion animal but willing to
make a difference in his / her life? Your generous contribution
will give a homeless pet another "leash on life" at Desert Haven
Animal Refuge. Contact us at 1-505-894-1937 for more information
or email
aubin29@zianet.com.
THE
SIERRA COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY was founded in 1989 and, soon
afterwards, it raised funds to be able to create several
comprehensive programs that would provide long-term benefits for
the companion animals of Sierra County.
1) THE
SIERRA COUNTY SPAY-NEUTER PROGRAM is one of the most
effective. We rebate $20.00 to each and every local resident who
applies for some type of financial help. This program alone has
a yearly budget of $2,000 to $5,500.
2) THE
SPAY-A-STRAY PROGRAM is already five years old. We cover the
entire costs of sterilizing five or more stray or feral cats
each month, using the Trap-Neuter-Return (T-N-R) method - coined
some years ago by Alley Cat Allies. Cats sterilized under this
program must have a safe environment to return to after
sterilization. Currently, the Society is in the process of
sterilizing entire colonies of stray cats in several areas
within the community, including some outlying towns within the
County of Sierra, NM. For example, over 180 feral cats roam
freely throughout the little town of Hillsboro, New Mexico, a
community of less than 200 residents. Several years ago, none of
those cats were sterilized. To date, just about all of the 180+
stray cats have been sterilized, thanks to the on-going efforts
of the Sierra County Humane Society. It is through contributions
earmarked for this gigantic effort that the Society is able to
keep this most important program financially stable.
3) THE
ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM PROGRAM was introduced over 10 years ago
by our organization. From 10 to 32 elementary classrooms
participate each year on a voluntary basis. This program is
offered to our Society by the National Association of Humane
Education (NAHE). Not only does each student receive KIND NEWS,
a newspaper published by the National Association for Humane and
Environmental Education and geared to each classroom's level of
comprehension, but also regular visits are made by Humane
Society volunteers to interested elementary classrooms, either
with or without a pet from Desert Haven Animal Refuge. Video
tapes on animal care, on cruelty to animals or on the need for
spaying or neutering a pet are made available throughout the
school year to interested teachers. Pet care packages,
literature and Pet coloring books are also distributed on a
first-come first-serve basis and as long as adequate funding is
raised each year for that specific program. We also provide,
courtesy of our organization, books and magazine subscriptions
for both our local high school and public libraries.
HOW DO WE
COVER the growing costs of DESERT HAVEN ANIMAL REFUGE and our
other programs ?
Since we
receive no financial help from government entities, local or
otherwise, all our funding must come from personal and corporate
contributions. We hold a number of fundraising events each year
to keep our non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization financially
stable and to help keep its mission on track.
1) OUR
" im4pets" AUCTION SITE on the web at
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/iam4pets, the official
Society auction site which features many interesting items,
including collectibles, antiques, and other unusual
one-of-a-kind items. This site is seasonal, as the person
handling it spends several weeks each year in our community and
re-opens that site immediately after her arrival. All proceeds
from the "iam4pets" site benefit the animals who reside at
Desert Haven Animal Refuge. To donate a large or expensive item
for the on-line auction, contact Eliana at (505) 894-2639, or
e-mail her at
aubin29@zianet.com.
2)
OUR THRIFT SHOP, Paws & Claws
3) OTHER
SOURCES OF FUNDING: Aside from Paws & Claws thrift shop, the
Society earns the remainder of its financial needs through very
modest membership fees, tax exempt contributions from private
parties and local fraternal and service organizations under its
501(c)(3) status. Support is also raised through fundraising activities such
as garage sales, pancake breakfasts, crafts and art shows,
silent auctions, bake sales, Pennies for Pets, an aluminum cans
recycling program, Doggie Banks located at several businesses
throughout town, and their all-popular annual Have-a-Heart
dinner dance.
YOUR
GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS, small or large, allow us to keep our
animals healthy and happy in the home-like environment that we
provide for each and every one.
Click here for a list of pets at this shelter
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