Happy Cat Haven Gibsons, BC

SEASONS GREETINGS AND GRATEFUL PURRS
from all of us at Happy Cat Haven.
We are truly appreciative of all the
support we receive from
our wonderful community!

The Happy Cat Haven is located in Violet Winegarden's own home in Gibsons. Violet has converted her whole house to an animal haven, and in the years since she started keeping records, she has helped over 5955 as of November 2009. Most of the animals have been cats since bylaw restrictions limit our ability to shelter dogs.

Feral Cats in Merrit

Happy Cat Haven would like to bring your attention to a very critical and urgent situation regarding abandoned and feral cats in Merritt, BC.  These animals have been neglected for sometime.  The by-law officer of the City of Merritt appears overwhelmed by the situation.  We ask all humane thinking readers and supporters of Happy Cat Haven to read the following letter sent by us to the Merritt News:

Dear Editor,

I have been speaking with Angie Koczkur of Merritt regarding the present furore in Merritt concerning feral cats.  It would seem that some persons have allowed themselves to feel that these thrown-away kittens and cats are to be treated as vermin!  How shocking!

Persons who have been brought up to see all animals as having a place and a reason for being on our earth, just like us, will see that it is both neglect and self centeredness which has created the ‘feral cat’ problems.  Like it or lump it, it is a problem that clear thinking humane humans must address!  To that end, volunteer humane animal trappers will be coming to Merritt and doing everything possible to help the innocent animals.  Patience and good will is the greatest need for all concerned.

I’m involved with a Haven for abandoned, aged and needy cats and (other small creatures) in the Town of Gibsons, BC.  As the Mayor and Councillors of our town are both well educated and well versed in animal welfare, almost from our beginnings, knowing that working with us, feral cats would not become a ‘major’ problem.  The goals and work projects of Happy Cat Haven have been treated with respect and well earned tolerance.  What a pleasure to live here and be able to work in harmony with all concerned.

In closing, I quote Ghandi, who will always be revered for his gentle persuasions and determinations:  ‘I hold that the more helpless the creature, the more entitled it is to the protection of man from the cruelty of man.’

Violet Winegarden
Happy Cat Haven

Please write with your support to Mayor Susan Roline and the Merritt News for a TNR (trap, neuter, return) program to be implemented in Merritt.  Mayor Roline’s email address This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You can email the Editor, Merritt News This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You can read more about the situation in the Merritt News online at http://www.merrittnews.net .

Illegal Trapping on the Sunshine Coast!

Click above for more information about the cat that was injured in a trap and helped by Happy Cat Haven.

Our Cat and Kitten Adoption and Visiting Hours are: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
We look forward to seeing you. Please check out our Foster Cat Program and Donations Pages!

Fantastic Happy Cat Haven Yard Sale every Saturday, weather permitting!
Click here for more information.

All the animals who come to us need help. Most have been abandoned, often in the cruelest of circumstances, and many are starving and sick. Violet nurses them back to health, vaccinates, and if they are mature, spays or neuters them.

The adoptable ones are then found good homes - one third of which are in the lower Mainland area. Those animals who are not adoptable for reasons of age, deformity or personality problems simply live in the Haven for the rest of their lives.

Most animal shelters regularly euthanize large numbers of animals due to epidemics of disease within the shelter or lack of space to house them. We have never euthanized an animal because "we have had too many of them." Furthermore, as of Jan 20, 2009 Violet has lost under 50 cats and kittens who were so ill or injured on arrival that survival was impossible.

The Haven's record is truly a remarkable testimony to the intense individual care given each animal and the immaculate hygiene which is maintained all day every day.

Happy Cat Haven's Programs are an immesurable help to Cats in need on the Sushine Coast.
Click below to learn more:

Foster Cat Program -  Feral Cat Program -  Volunteering -  Donate to the Haven

We never have fewer than 30 cats and sometimes as many as 60, all of whom have free run of the shelter (except for those who, because of illness or injury require isolation). All of the work at the Haven is done by Violet (who lives on a small pension) and a handful of volunteers. No one draws a salary and all of the money we raise goes toward providing the best possible care for the animals.

We are Non-Profit Charitable Organization with tax-deductible status with the Department of National Revenue. For every donation $20 and up you will receive a tax receipt through the mail. Our Foster Program Receipts are mailed at the end of the year. We survive on donations and funds raised through newspaper and can/bottle recycling, grocery store certificates from sales slips and two or three fund raising events which we hold annually such as garage sales. Although we receive major discounts from all of the veterinarians on the Sunshine Coast BC... our expenses each and every month average between $8,000. and $10,000 and we are always short of money.

It should be noted that we have a non-negotiable rule that none of the cats or dogs we either keep or adopt out will be allowed to reproduce, thus in our own small way, helping to reduce the terrible number of unwanted cats in our area. We also spay or neuter many colonies of feral cats, which helps to keep a check on the ever growing wild cat population.

Violet and her small cadre of volunteers are truly helping the helpless! If you'd like to donate to help these wonderful cats and kittens please click on our Donations for Cats page for more information. It's easy!