By Alexis Steagull, Staff Writer
Safe Harbor Humane Society in Kenosha, Wis., has officially been serving our community for 102 years. Safe Harbor takes in roughly 3,000 animals annually. Of those 3,000, only about half actually get adopted out to new homes. With the number of strays at a high rate, above average, the local humane societies and shelters need community support.
“We really want to save as many animals as possible and we want to find forever homes [for the animals] and to reach out to the community we live in and really have them understand what we do,” said Trevor Davis, the volunteer coordinator at Safe Harbor.
Safe Harbor serves Kenosha County, but it’s time for Kenosha County to serve them. Safe Harbor mainly runs on volunteer staff, private donations, and fundraising events held to raise money for the shelter. Needless to say, they are always in need of volunteers.
“There are probably about a good 250 to 300 volunteers out there; I would say that there are about 50 that are very consistent,” said Davis.
That number may seem more than enough to some, but in reality, with such an important service, there is always a need for more help. Volunteering would be a great opportunity for teen animal lovers to take on a greater role in their community, and even gain volunteer hours required for graduation. Volunteer positions include dog walking, cat socializing, kennel cleaning, office aids, animal transportation, and even off-site events.
“Honestly, I hesitate to call it volunteering sometimes because it really just feels like I get to play with animals. Almost every single time I’ve went, it hurt my heart to not take them all home,” said Sydney Moczulewski, a long term volunteer at Safe Harbor.
Safe Harbor has kept itself up to date when it comes to housing their yearly intake of strays and neglected animals. In 2011, the shelter opened its very own veterinary clinic. Here, they are able to provide fast and low cost veterinarian services to their animals and the public. The lobby expansion and roaming cat rooms addition in 2015 has also allowed the animals, volunteers and potential adoptive families a more comfortable environment.
Of course, along with any expansion comes a price. People are encouraged to participate in local fundraising events in order to support the growing pet sanctuary.
“We just got done with our spaghetti dinner at the Kenosha Moose Lodge,” said Davis, “We do three really big fundraisers each year, we also have our pancake breakfast that is coming up April 29 at the Kenosha Moose Lodge.”
Organizers encourage all people to come to events like these in support of the shelter, but for those who can not make it to the events or are wanting to volunteer and simply can’t find the time, Safe Harbor is always open to donations. Items such as paper towels, canned wet cat food, dry dog food, kitten formula, laundry detergents, etc. are always appreciated.
With rising population numbers in human and animal communities, it is Safe Harbor’s time to shine when it comes to rescuing and finding forever homes for precious furry friends.
If an animal is ever found on the streets, the public is encouraged to bring them in to the shelter or call the non-emergency number and they will find them and bring it in safely. It is also important to take care of pets to ensure their safety and the public’s safety. Microchipping is a beneficial tool used in locating families when pets are found and brought in to the local shelters. The animal population is rising and so is the need for extra help.
For more information, contact 262-694-4047.
Photos by Alexis Steagull