Finding the best pet for your family is like creating a work of art. It takes time, effort, and attention to detail and when complete is a rewarding experience. To get each animal ready for adoption, The Haven takes care of any health and behavioral needs, including spay/neuter, heartworm testing, and socialization. The Haven can help you decide which pet is right for your family. There is an area dedicated to meet and greet where pets and people can spend a little time getting to know each other. The Haven has spruced up this area with two new, custom-made wooden benches. Executive Director Michael Graham thought, “We are always thinking of creative ways to involve the community and inspire others to join …
the no-kill movement”, said Michael Graham, Executive Director for The Haven. “Joining forces with the Eastern Shore Art Center to design colorful and artistic benches made this vision a reality.”
As art is the coming together of many elements, this new project came together thanks to the blending of many gifts. Graham contacted Haven volunteer Suzanne Winstead, who agreed to contact Cecil Christenberry at Old Tyme Feed and ask him to donate the benches. Cecil generously did so. Haven volunteer Randy Neimeyer kindly handled pickup and delivery. Youth volunteers Sam and Mya pitched in and primed the benches. Nancy Raia, Community Outreach Direct for the Eastern Shore Art Center https://esartcenter.org/ excitedly completed the project. Nancy asked for photos of Haven dogs and cats. She chose Ringo because his sweet nature exuded and made her smile. She could tell he was going to be fun. Kitty “made my heart warm”.
“I’m always happy to help The Haven,” said Nancy, who designed The Haven’s T-shirts several years ago. “Their mission as a no-kill shelter is close to my heart.” Nancy finds it “a pleasure to teach and impact the community through the arts.” At the Eastern Shore Art Center, Nancy has led Rotary Youth Club students in painting portraits of adoptable pets. The students enjoyed the project and shared stories about pets they’ve loved. Nancy titled the series on The Haven’s new benches, “The Colors of Love.” Her vibrant paintings display her enthusiasm for the “pets who brighten our world immeasurably, only want to be loved, and give their whole hearts back.” “Ringo Wraps My Heart with Love” and “Kitty Brings Purr-fect Love” will be a fun and beautiful way to present The Haven to guests and potential adopters. Michael Graham hopes when people see these benches, they will also see “two nonprofit organizations making life-changing transformations in the lives of people and pets in Fairhope – The Eastern Shore Art Center and The Haven – that have made a long-lasting impact toward creating a better community for both people and pets.”
To learn more about how you can help end pet homelessness contact The Haven No-Kill Animal Shelter 251-929-3980 or email us at info@havenforanimals.org. Become a fan of The Haven on Facebook, go to Facebook.com/havenforanimals. Follow The Haven on Twitter (@HavenforAnimals) and Instagram (@thehavenforanimals).
About The Haven
The Haven has been working to blend pets and people into happy “furrever” families since 2000. Through donations, the life-saving programs of this nonprofit, no-kill 501(c) 3 organization have provided futures for over 9.600 homeless dogs and cats. The animal shelter works together with like-minded organizations and municipal animal control shelters in efforts to create a no-kill Baldwin County.
About the Eastern Shore Art Center
The Eastern Shore Art Center connects the community through the arts with education, exhibitions, and outreach activities. Created by the Eastern Shore Art Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation relying on donations, memberships, and grants, The Art Center is free to the public and offers guided tours, ever-changing exhibits featuring artists from all over the country, classes and workshops for all ages and abilities, and outreach programs serving those not served by the Academy.