In this new world of social distancing we are asking people who would like to adopt an animal from us to make an appointment so that we only have one family at a time. We are in the process of continuing to get all our pups desexed and ready for their new homes.  Due to the Corona Virus we are facing a financial crisis with fewer adoptions taking place and donations are drying up. There has been an unprecedented number of requests for surrender for dogs in particular which we just can’t cater for. The pounds are full and are warning people if they surrender the animals will be put down. We are full to the brim, although we have acreage we do not have the financial resources required. It is just so so sad.

Having gotten through all the challenges we have faced over the last 14 years we would hate to have to close due to the tightening of everyone’s belts due to the virus crisis. All donations regardless how small are appreciated and with the end of financial year not very far away, all donations over $2 are tax deductable. We really need your help to survive and continue to save the lives of the cats and dogs of the Clarence Valley and beyond, Please help if you can.

We are still short of volunteers to help us especially on the week-ends. We are still looking for someone to come to help us with the dogs on the weekends and someone to help us with the cats on a Sunday. Maybe some of the school leavers or TAFE students on holidays can come and help us. We need each volunteer for approximately four hours on a Sunday if possible for the cats or the dogs.

We are still looking for a financial mentor to help us build a social enterprise with the idea that its profits will assist Happy Paws Haven better sustainable into the future. It would be wonderful if that person is local and loves animals. We have managed to make a number of improvements to spending strategically while reducing debt. Now we need to build our financial strategy for the next 3-5 years with the goal of become financially sustainable so we do not get into the same position again as we did in 2019. We have reduced our vet bill significantly and now only owe $5000 across two vets.

Normally our vet bill consists of anticipated expenses such as vaccinations, animal checks, dentals, heart worm checks and desexing we want to get back to that position. This year already we are getting multiple litters of pups being dumped as their owners are finding it difficult to rehome them due the current virus situation. We also de-sexed at least 34 cats and dogs and at least 34 C5 or F4 vaccinations so far and we have another 22 desexing scheduled and 35 vaccinations of dogs and cats scheduled. This does not include other treatments such as X-rays, medical treatments and surgeries, we are a no kill sanctuary, we invest in the lives of all our animals but last year it has come at a substantial cost.

Over the many years HPH has operated, we have rehomed thousands of animals and we have remained viable. But the financial demands of last year have brought us to our knees. To continue to operate we are asking for your help. We need your assistance to get us through this time. It is all about the animals and we want to keep being there for them. There is marketing, maintenance, electricity, phones etc etc. It costs us about $200K per year to operate and the animals get the best we can give, all funds are from the generous contribution of our donors and we are primarily run by volunteers. If everyone just donated $2 or $5 and they also asked their friends to do the same, we would be able to get our vet bills up to date and to hopefully renovate the facilities for the dogs and cats which they deserve.

Please spread the word as we really do need your help! Either through PayPal using our email address happypawshaven@bigpond.com or via our bank, the Bendigo Community Bank in South Grafton BSB 633000, Account 130786031 and our account name is Happy Paws Haven Inc. All donations over $2 are tax deductible! Thank you!. We are an ACNC endorsed registered charity! Our ABN is 79928920087, CFN 23496

We urgently need more volunteers!

We URGENTLY need extra help on the week-ends as we are very short!

We have a volunteering at Happy Paws Haven Facebook group so that our volunteers past, present and future can share their experience while volunteering at Happy Paws Haven, with the hope that more people may assist us and our animals.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/795406837560903/

If anyone who is in Grafton or nearby we really need help urgently! If you could help by asking if anyone is able to volunteer even just 3-4 hours on one day a week would be great. Maybe animal lovers who don’t have a family nearby could come and spend time helping us with the animals at Happy Paws Haven. Any time from NOW would be wonderful. We are open seven days a week as usual from 0930 to 1530, our hours are slightly shorter during winter as we put the animals to bed and rug the grey hounds.

Cats and kittens for adoption this week:

We get all cats vet checked prior to adoption to make sure that we comply to the standards required by any pet shop. We have adopted out well over 1200 cats over the last 12 years and only a very very small percentage having developed any illness as a result of the change in environment but now we are being extremely careful. All our animals are microchipped, immunised and desexed as soon as possible after they arrive. Our Rehoming number is 251000043.

Aleta was bought to us early last year, she had just had kittens and was found by a homeless person who could not look after her although she tried. Aleta as a very young mum went straight to a foster home where she and her babies were very well looked after. They have grown up to be very loving affectionate beautiful young cats. Aleta and her beautiful tabby daughters have all been desexed microchipped, immunised, regularly wormed and de-flead. 900079000382752

Andre came to us in a box with two tabby boys, his black sister and his mum Annabella at the end of 2017. They had been dumped due to their owner becoming homeless we were told. They could not fend for themselves. They were covered in fleas bloated with worms and very dehydrated to point where we were not sure whether they would make it. Miraculously they have made it through with Annabella’s loving help. They have grown up to be beautiful affectionate naughty mischievous young cats we now only have Angelo and his brother Andre left to find a wonderful loving home. They have all been chipped desexed immunised and regularly treated for parasites ready for their new homes. 900079000382750

Tara is a funny girl in a peculiar way, she has a big heart but like all cats can be cantankerous at the best of times, just when you want her to be loving she will turn her back and walk away or decide to have a spack. She was found at Yamba with nowhere to go and very pregnant. She had two little white deaf boys and three fluffy grey blue girls, all of which have wonderful homes. In the midst of this another mum had kittens but only two survived and she was so sick she had to be put down so Tara took the two babies under her wing as they were newly born too. She was a great mum and did a wonderful job bring up all these babies. She loves being stroked and groomed but dislikes being picked up so only tolerates it for a short period and soon wants to be put down again so she can do her own thing. She is beautiful look at. She is also a good mouser as she often watches them at dusk and dawn ready to pounce. She has been desexed immunised and chipped and is ready for her special new home. 943094322007334

Dogs for adoption for this week:

We get all dogs vet checked prior to adoption to make sure that we comply to the standards required by any pet shop. All our animals are microchipped, immunised and desexed as soon as possible after they arrive. All dogs are also tested to make sure that they do not have heart worm. We have rescued and adopted out well over 1300 dogs over the last 12 years. Our Rehoming number is 251000043

The A-Team arrived new year’s day, extremely dehydrated and starving hurry, the young couple did not know what to do as the mother’s milk had dried up. Dr Lisa from Sandy Paws in Iluka and Dr Ray from Clarence Valley Vet Clinic helped us save them, one had to have a transfusion and the others fluids. They also had hook worm on board which had to be treated urgently. We were able to save them all and young Aria is a prime example of the team. All are very healthy, with lovely natures, typical playful pups now ready for their new homes. They are like all our animals immunised, desexed, micro-chipped, and regularly treated for all common canine parasites. 900079000630607

Blue is a young cattle kelpie cross who was surrendered because he was a bored pup who was being destructive. He had not been to training and was left to his own devices. Now he is a very loving loyal young dog very smart and needs something to do. Just some simple games such as treasure hunt using his kibble or putting some kibble in soft drink bottles to roll around the lawn, or being taken to training on Sunday afternoon. Blue is a very affectionate young dog waiting for an active family. He is crate trained and house trained, he comes when called most of the time. He is happy to sit for a treat. He needs some more lead training but is a typical teenager who would make a lovely active family pet. He was taken to the Dog Lovers Show last year so is very well socialised with people and other dogs.  He has been desexed, chipped, vaccinated, wormed, heart worm treated and de-flead too! 900006000265949

My name is Lucy, I came here with five other greyhounds who were surrendered by their trainer because he could not care for us anymore. We have learnt to play and not take life so seriously any more. We love to zoom and can be mischievous at times. We love going for walks as long as it is not too far and playing with our toys. We are inquisitive putting our long noses into places we should not as we love learning new things. We can be very lazy and just want to sleep in the sun or to be lounge lizards when we can. We make excellent companions as we loved to be stroked. I love it when my carer comes to sit with me and I just put my head in her lap. I am very loving and affectionate and just happy just to keep my carer company. My Micro-chip is: 956000004116365

HappyPaws Haven is open seven days a week for animal adoptions. Phone: Sally on 0419 404 766 or 6644 9936 seven days a week, email Sally on happypawshaven@bigpond.com or visit HappyPaws at www.happypawshaven.com.au

Sally Rogers

Happy Paws Haven