FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ Quick Links

What does SH4P consider "transitional hardship" and who do we plan to help?

  • Medical issues or recovery programs — including, but not limited to: (cancer patients, any patient in recovery, etc.)
  • Temporary financial hardships — including, but not limited to: (loss of job, homeless, foreclosure victims)
  • Natural disasters — animals who are displaced from their owners or who need temporary care while their owners find adequate housing
  • Military personnel — those who are deployed prior to finding adequate animal care

How is SH4P different from most other shelters?

SH4P:

  • Is an alternative to pet abandonment, which gives people with temporary hardships a chance to recover and reunite with their pets.
  • Provides owners the option to have access to their pets, if possible, during the hardship, in order to benefit from the unconditional love and healing that comes from the animal-human bond.
  • Does not take in animals that owners need to give away or strays.
  • Does not provide adoption services.
  • Does not provide neutering/spaying.
  • Does take in pets temporarily for owners who want them back when they recover from their hardship or return to their home.

When will SH4P be able to help the animals?

  • We are launching our pilot program now March 2010

What type of care is provided to the pet in SH4P program?

Safe Haven 4Pets will humanely provide for animals basic needs: food, shelter, and daily interaction. However, we pride ourselves on providing beyond animals' basic needs when ever possible. Specifically, we offer the following programs:

  • Foster care
  • In-home support for the pets of owner…
  • Items and food donations at our boarding facility
  • Boarding

What types of donations are needed to support SH4P's efforts?

  • Money — tax-deductible, charitable donations in the form of check, cash, dowlry, credit card, or money order
  • Storage sheds — to store food, supplies, treats, medical supplies, leashes
  • Supplies — bleach, stainless steel bowls, leashes, collars, fencing, crates, kitty litter, toys, etc.
  • Food — once we have land, we will post the brands and quantities desired.
  • Actionable Items — art, sporting goods, vacation packages, gift certificates, coupons…

How do I volunteer?

  • Fill out our volunteer applications
  • Attend our volunteer orientations once we have land to build our facility.
  • Fill out our volunteer application. Then, sign up for SH4P's volunteer initiation class. Once the volunteer class is completed and the application is processed, you are ready to begin helping. You will begin receiving emails from our volunteer committee detailing what SH4P needs help with once you are enrolled in the volunteer program. If you have more specific questions please email Gloria Wright, our Volunteer Committee Chair.

What type of volunteers do you currently need?

  • Fundraising efforts
  • Fundraising committee members
  • Foster care
  • Dog walkers
  • Cat sitters
  • Trucks and drivers to transport pets and products
  • Exotic animal care providers
  • Photographs for our website
  • Locations to hold fundraisers
  • Web development
  • Press release and other PR support
  • Help with setting up accounting system for animal non-profit
  • Help finding land in Atlanta next to a animal-friendly park
  • Spreading the word

How do I become a foster parent?

  • Fill out the volunteer application, request to be a foster parent and SH4P will send you an additional form to clarify what type of pet you are best suited to foster.
  • One of our staff will then schedule an in-home visit and go over any additional information to quality you for this program.
  • Once approved, sign up to attend an orientation for foster care and go through our “Meet Your Match” program.
  • Introduction of foster–caregiver and pet.

How are donations being spent?

  • All funds that are allocated to a particular fund are being held in an escrow account and dog eared once spent in our accounting records.
  • Most of the funding are being spent on general expenses — i.e. accounting, storage, office, advertising, media, marketing, and branding.
  • Once we raise more than 50k in a calendar year our budget anticipates 1/3 goes to general expenses, 2/3 towards program expenses.

What types of donation are needed to support SH4P efforts?

  • Money (tax-deductible charitable donations in the form of check, cash, credit card, money order);
  • Storage sheds to store food, supplies, treats, medical supplies, leashes, etc.;
  • Supplies (bleach, stainless steal bowls, leashes, colors, fencing, crates, kitty litter, toys, etc.)
  • Food—once we have land we will post the brands and quantities desired.
  • Donations for fundraisers/items that can be auctioned off to raise funds such as art, sporting goods, vacation packages, gift certificates, coupons, etc.

How do I enroll my pet in SH4P program?

  • Determine your hardship
  • Fill out one of our dog/cat applications found online, or call our office to have an application mailed, faxed, or emailed.
  • Submit application: once your application is reviewed the pre-screening interview will qualify your eligibility and Òtemporary hardshipÓ status.
  • Animal testing — inter "meet your match" program
  • If your animal is excepted into SH4P program, funding will be raised or allocated to your case
  • Sponsors will be assigned to your pet and the program beings.

What length of time does SH4P consider temporary?

  • Because our funding is limited we are currently able to commit to up to three month at a time. However we have the option to extend the term of care for an additional three months to a year if funding is available.

How do I prove my Hardship?

  • Doctors letter, foreclosure notice, unemployment letter or deployment papers

How do I obtain a tax receipt for my donation?

  • All donations are recorded and kept with the President of SH4P. Because we are a majority volunteer organization we send out thank you notes with SH4P EIN number quarterly. To request immediate documentation of your donation for your accountant contact Lucinda Shore and she will provide you with a letter with in 72 hours.

Where are the release forms?

  • The President, Lucinda Shore or your sponsor will be able to provide you with the link to the form. This is the legal release form owners must sign releasing their pet to SH4P as guardian while in our care

What is a Sponsors?

  • This is the person assigned to your case who mediates between the caregiver and owner of the pet. They periodically check to insure adequate and consistent care is being provided to all animals in SH4P's program. Sponsors are employees of SH4P and required to document all processes and communication into SH4Ps database so all employees are able to provide answers to necessary questions as they arise. The sponsor is also versed in how to handle emergencies and knows were the pet is at all times.

What type of animals will SH4P care for?

  • At first, we will be providing care for dogs and cats. Depending upon our volunteer's abilities, we may eventually provide care of other animals like horses and indicate our progress on SH4P website. For example, we might have horse feeding/food available at some point. Some volunteers may offer to keep rabbits or other caged critters (we might see if some of the local schools would be willing to participate in our foster care program). Some of the in-home volunteers might be willing to help feed fish, rodents, reptiles, or other caged critters.

Who's on the board?