Animal Haven rescuing pets for 40 years

The news often has awful stories about animal cruelty and homeless or abandoned animals. Animal Haven, located on 35-22 Prince Street in Flushing, is a non-profit organization which cares for cats and dogs that need special help and aids the homeless ones, too.
The organization operates no-kill shelters and sanctuaries - loving environments where the rescued animals are cared for. People are encouraged to visit the shelters, to see if any of them could be the pets they’re looking for.
“We do wonderful stuff in Flushing,” said Jennifer Bristol, the Associate Director of Animal Haven, adding, “I think we [the staff and volunteers] all adore all animals. In some of the cases we see, we feel we are the animals’ only advocates.”
Animal Haven sends out an adoption van every weekend, which travels around the tri-state area, to promote animal adoption.
“When a person adopts one of our cats or dogs, we call it a ‘forever home,’ ” said Crystal Cox, Director of Operations at Animal Haven. “These homes provide a lifetime of love and the owners treat them like their own kids,” she said.
In addition to their Flushing location, Animal Haven has an adoption center and boutique in the SoHo section of Manhattan and a sanctuary and rehabilitation center in South Kortright, in upstate New York. The organization is privately funded by donations, grants and through fundraising.
‘I feel great working for Animal Haven,” said Cox, who believes that many people today are not fully educated and don’t know enough about caring for their pets to even take them to the veterinarian.
“Animal Haven is a really great place. They see a veterinarian and get the best food,” said Antonia Macias, who has been a volunteer for three years and is now working as an intern. “I like animals and I just wanted to help out,” Macias said.
“If people want to volunteer, they can go to the website. They can come walk dogs and socialize with cats,” Macias advised anyone who may want to get involved.
The group will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a luncheon on October 21. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 718-886-3683 or visit www.animalhavenshelter.org.