About Us
Connecting Hands to Paws
Safe Haven of Iowa County is in the process of raising funds to build a new animal sanctuary in rural Williamsburg to serve Iowa County and beyond. The state-of-the-art facility will be a safe haven and learning center for animals and people. Scores of animal lovers and long-time supporters have already joined the effort to make the new sanctuary a reality.
The Vital Need for a New Sanctuary
In 2005, when Safe Haven of Iowa County started at a private home just outside of Williamsburg, the sanctuary was caring for approximately 50 animals at any given time. Since then, the number of homeless and abused animals coming through the sanctuary’s doors has increased to staggering levels—at any given time we have almost 200 animals under our care with the use of foster homes.
At the same time, Safe Haven of Iowa County wants desperately to expand the services we provide to include addressing the staggering pet overpopulation crisis by adding programs and services that directly impact pet homelessness including low cost spay/neuter; humane education for all ages; animal cruelty/abuse intervention by working with the Iowa County Sheriff and expand adoption programs. Even without these services has come an influx of people as well as animals. The number of people volunteering at SHIC and seeking the SHIC's services has increased. The current facility and infrastructure simply cannot accommodate the growing needs of the animals and the community.
A new sanctuary is not only needed because SHIC's current facility lacks square footage. SHIC needs better-designed space to care for the animals and accommodate the people who care for them. The current sanctuary’s ventilation and air circulation system is terribly inadequate making treatment and containment of even common animal illnesses like kennel cough and feline upper respiratory infection nearly impossible to combat. Further, staff and volunteers lack space to carry out their important program work. Volunteer committees are forced to meet off-site or in cramped offices because there is not a single conference or meeting room.
In addition, the things we all take for granted such as bathroom facilities, washer and dryer, grooming stations, private adoption rooms just simply don't exist.
The Solution
The goal of Safe Haven of Iowa County is to create a new facility located 3 Miles South of Williamsburg that would adequately accommodate the current and future demand for animal care and services. The new Adoption Center and Sanctuary will be built on 15 acres at 2468 270th St, Williamsburg. Safe Haven will continue to operate in its existing facility until the new sanctuary is complete (expected by the end of 2010).
The new facility will create a healthy environment specifically designed to include larger adoption space, more natural light, an outdoor exercise area, community education classrooms, modern kennels, enhanced ventilation and a medical treatment/surgical center.
Proposed Cost: $950,000 including construction, equipment and furnishings, site preparation and contingencies. In addition we would like to raise an additional 500,000 for an endowment fund for veterinary expenses.
