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Home > Out of the Cage! > November/December 2005 > Featured Alliance Participating Organization: Animal Haven Slated to Open Manhattan Adoption Center in Spring Featured Alliance Participating Organization Animal Haven Slated to Open Manhattan Adoption Center in Spring
The facility, located in SoHo at Centre and Broome Streets, near Nolita, Chinatown, and Little Italy, combines an impressive 7,000-square-foot space with an ideal location. "Location was a huge factor in selecting the space," explains Marcello Forte, Animal Haven's Executive Director. "We wanted a location with walk-by traffic, in a neighborhood that is underserved at the moment." According to Marcello, the center will house between 25–35 cats and 10–15 dogs (depending on size) round-the-clock, with an eye toward brisk adoptions and quick turnover. A blend of paid employees and volunteers will staff the facility, which is expected to be open to the public seven days a week.
Although a name for the adoption center has not been finalized, it's tentative name is Animal Haven Boutique and Adoption Center. Appropriately so, as the facility will accommodate not only animals for adoption but also space for pet-related retail services. These services will generate income that, along with monies raised through fundraising efforts, will allow Animal Haven to manage the center as a self-sustaining operation. Although start-up costs for the center were provided by a grant from the Mayor's Alliance as part of its strategic plan, the grant's terms require that the facility generates revenues to maintain its ongoing operation. This grant was made possible by the generous support of the ASPCA and Maddie's Fund. Mayor's Alliance President Jane Hoffman explains that Animal Haven (one of the founding members of the Mayor's Alliance) was selected to receive the grant after responding to a request for proposal (RFP) offered to Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) located in New York City's five boroughs earlier this year. Proposals were reviewed by the Mayor's Alliance and the ASPCA, another Alliance founding member. "Animal Haven's proposal demonstrated both the commitment to get the center up and running and the required fundraising resources and ability to sustain its operation for the long haul," she says. Commenting on Animal Haven's successful bid for the project, Marcello says, "Animal Haven has experience opening and running storefront adoption centers. This is a huge project, but we are poised for this and have been working towards this goal for some time." The center, which already is under construction, will feature animals for adoption, retail products, and interactive areas on the first floor. The cat rooms are on this level, with a meet-and-greet area in the center so adopters can get acquainted with individual cats. The basement will accommodate storage, food preparation, dog rooms for sleeping at night, and a doggie play area. The second floor will house offices and 2000 square feet for training, agility, parties (which can be rented by the public), and numerous other pet- themed events. Expanding Capacity at Animal Haven The Animal Haven Shelter at 35-22 Prince Street in Flushing, Queens, is the hub of Animal Haven's activities, which include a robust adoption program, a highly successful volunteer program, dog training classes, and home base for Animal Haven's mobile adoption program. Animal Haven also maintains Animal Haven Acres, a sanctuary and rehabilitation center in upstate New York, and adoption outlets — open seven days a week — at two Biscuits & Bath locations in Manhattan: 701 East Second Avenue (at 38th Street) and 41 West 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues). How will the new Manhattan adoption center affect operations at Animal Haven? "The Flushing shelter will continue to be our main base of operation," explains Marcello. "It's where animals will go through intake and receive medical attention. The new center in Manhattan will increase our adoption capacity, which means the Queens shelter can intake and process a greater number of animals. "We've been working toward this project for three years," Marcello continues. "It is so exciting to see it come to fruition. This will change the perception of shelter animals in our city and help make a difference in the number of animals needlessly killed each year." If you'd like to learn more about Animal Haven, make an online donation, or find out about opportunities to have your name included on the Animal Haven Society Wall of Honor at the new adoption center, please visit the web site at www.animalhavenshelter.org.
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