How much better will depend on the generosity of local animal lovers and the continued work by a hearty band of volunteers. Thanks to the vision of a generous land donor there may be a safe haven for homeless animals nearby—and the real possibility for an animal sanctuary for homeless dogs and cats, where the animals can live out their days even if permanent homes are never found for them.

Mary Anne Fleetwood is the founder and Executive Director of the newly organized Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary of Sussex, Co., Inc., a proposed no-kill shelter that will provide a safe and loving environment for homeless and/or neglected cats and dogs in Sussex County.

Fleetwood and the Board based this project on a model sanctuary called Best Friends in Utah. There is also a successful no-kill sanctuary called Heart and Soul in New Mexico.

Sussex County’s Safe Haven would be built on 5.1 acres of land in Eastern Sussex pledged by land developer and Safe Haven board member Harold E. Dukes.

According to Fleetwood, the site would include several barn-like structures, now under design, to house the animals as well as an adoption center and a space for humane education services.

The sanctuary would house the animals in a home-like setting and have specially trained volunteers, including seniors and youngsters to help socialize the animals. They would follow-up on adoptions, and animals which proved unadoptable would always have a permanent home at Safe Haven.

Initial plans call for separate dog and cat bunkhouses, with thirty "homes" each and ten "emergency" slots.

The development of Safe Haven began more than two years ago and is now at a stage where fundraising is its primary activity. The group has received its 501(c)(3) tax designation, meaning that Safe Haven can accept donations that are tax deductible for the donors.

Safe Haven has already attracted $5000 from the Delaware Community Foundation, $5000 from County Bank and $2000 from the Sussex County Council. But there is a long way to go.

"We approached the Longwood Foundation," says Fleetwood, "and they issued a challenge to us. We need to show them that Sussex County wants this shelter by raising between four and five hundred thousand dollars. Then, we hope they will assist us."

Those funds will be used not only to construct sanctuary buildings, but to offer a continuing adoption program leading to the permanent placement of adoptable animals. The sanctuary would provide a permanent home for the unadoptable animals and insure that all animals at the site have access to appropriate health care, spaying and neutering. In addition, according to Fleetwood, all sanctuary personnel would be qualified, compassionate and dedicated.

In the future, the group hopes to provide socialized animals for use as therapy dogs and cats for convalescent homes and for the disabled.

The Safe Haven Board of Directors includes Fleetwood and Dukes, plus William Pfaff, director of the Small Business Development Center in Georgetown, Sharon Gray, a business counselor at the Small Business Center, Gene Dvornak, Vice President and General Manager for Cannery Village in Milton, Mary Miranda, a realtor with Long and Foster, and Lois Fargo, President of Coastal Printing of Millville.

Explaining the need for the sanctuary, Fleetwood cites an August 28 News Journal article noting that only three out of every ten animals housed in Delaware’s four shelters ever find homes. Sussex County has an extremely high euthanasia rate for homeless animals.

Currently, volunteers have developed an "underground railroad" of sorts where homeless animals are transported from the Georgetown SPCA to as far away as Florida and Canada for safety.

"We want to be able to take care of these homeless animals here in Sussex County and have a program that other communities can use as a model," Fleetwood says. "And what we need now are generous donors and people interested in getting involved in this project."

The Safe Haven Board of Directors will be hosting a Banquet for the Animals some time in the next month or so, to introduce people to the concept and attract donors. Small meetings are also being held in living rooms and offices around the County and support is building for the program.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the program can call 302-644-8476 or 302-645-8959.

Fleetwood asks that people inquire about the meetings and then attend—and bring other animal lovers along if possible.