Thanks to Governor Jack Markell,
lead bill sponsors Senator Patricia Blevins and Representative Melanie George, and every state Senator and Representative
in Delaware, Senate Bill 280 passed unanimously. The new Shelter Standards law requires basic standards of care in animal
shelters to reduce the kill rate for abandoned and abused dogs and cats and ensure uniform basic accountability to
the public of shelter care for animals. The law is being touted as the most comprehensive law of its kind in the US.
At the law signing ceremony,
Gov. Markell made a commitment to making Delaware a No-Kill state and said that "we want to keep animals,
rather than kill animals." Sen. Blevins emphasized that in order to save more lives, it is important that
Delawareans adopt animals from shelters, instead of buy them. Rep. Earl Jacques commended the new, but also stressed
that it is a first step in creating more protection for Delaware's cats and dogs. He also reminded attendees of
the need to pass the Anti-Chaining bill that will be in front of the House next session.
Safe Haven Executive Director Anne Gryczon was invited
by the Gov Markell's office to work on drafting the legislation with other representatives of Delaware animal groups.
Gryczon says, "this monumental legislation puts saving the lives of Delaware's animals first and gives rescue groups
better access to pound animals. Once Delaware is a true No-Kill state, we can help save the lives of animals in neighboring
states." "What is also so significant about this legislation," states Gryczon, " is that with its
new hold period for cats, it creates some protection for cats from from being killed at a pound. This is the first
step for real protection for cats from being killed, we will work towards greater protection for Delaware's cats, especially
ferals."
The Dunmyer Sisters Raise Funds with Lemonade
Stand in Dewey Beach
The Dunmyer sisters from Arlington Virginia set up a
lemonade stand on a busy corner in Dewey Beach over Labor Day weekend in 2009. Sky, 9 years old, and Summer, 7 years
old, offered lemonade in exchange for donations to Safe Haven. Young adults, neighbors, and even police officers stopped
by to enjoy the lemonade and make donations. The total donations collected by the girls were $98.31. The girls stated that they
are very interested in issues related to homeless animals. When they found out that Safe Haven is planning to build
a no-kill shelter that meets "green" LEED standards, the girls wanted to do something to help. Safe Haven is very
impressed with the girls' fundraising abilities and their commitment to animals.
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| Summer (left) & Sky at their lemonade stand |
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Behind
Gov. Markell (l-r): Jane Pierantozzi, Faithful Friends No-Kill Shelter Director; Anne Gryczon, Safe Haven "No-Kill"
Animal Sanctuary Director; Dr. Carol Tavani, Faithful Friends Board Member, & Sen. Patti Blevins, with a new friend.
Back row: Lois Fargo, Safe Haven Co-Founder & Board Member Highlights of Shelter Standards Law:
- forces all the shelters to vaccinate animals on intake for distemper/parvo (few animals are sick coming into a
shelter; most get ill after they enter)
- puts an emphasis on saving Delaware animals first
before taking in out of state animals
- makes the pounds offer animals to other shelters/rescue
groups before putting them down
- creates a 72 hold period for cats before they are killed.
Click for The News Journal article about the Shelter Standards law.
Safe Haven Transports Dogs to Maine Shelters
In March 2010, Safe Haven transported a van full of dogs to Maine shelters with
space in their kennels. A number of the dogs transported had been rescued by Safe Haven from life on chains 24 hours
a day. Volunteers
Rita Hughes and Cathie Taylor drove the van full of dogs from Delaware to the shelters in Maine Safe Haven is very grateful
to Rita and Cathie for taking the time out of their lives to transport the dogs all the way to Maine. Many Safe Haven volunteers help foster the dogs
in the time between their rescue and the transport. Click for more information.
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| Rita Hughes, standing with Beebe the pit bull mix and Cathie Taylor, kneeling by Smoke |
Safe Haven Donates Funds to Just Us Cat Rescue
Safe Haven
donated funds in January 2009 to Just Us Cat Rescue to help them spay/neuter the
stray cats living in the Plantations Subdivision in Lewes. The donated
funds were the charitable proceeds from Safe Haven's designated night at Poker at the Beach in Rehoboth. (Click for more information on these charitable games)
One of Safe Haven's goals is to partner with other nonprofit groups in Sussex County,
particularly the smaller groups that do spay/neuter of stray cats. (Click for more about Safe Haven's Values and Goals.) Pictured (l to r): Pat Riordan, Co-Founder of Just Us, A.J.
Hemphill, Co-Owner of Poker at the Beach, and Anne Gryczon, Executive Director, Safe Haven.
Tail Bangers Supports Safe Haven
Tail Bangers, a local company that is a consistent supporter
of Safe Haven, made gorgeous dog treats for Tails on the Trails on November 7. Every dog in the run/walk or the funny
dog contest got a bag of Tail Bangers cookies, and some lucky dogs won big cookies like the photo at left.
Tail Bangers made the beautiful
doggie gift basket at left for a Shelter is Served event at DISH Restaurant in Rehoboth. The basket was won by Jennifer
Foskey for her dog Jesse. Part of the proceeds from the event went to spay and neuter stray cats in Sussex County.
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Nassau, DE 19969 