Animal Safe Haven & Adoptions, Inc.

No-Kill foster system working to rescue abandoned, homeless and abused animals from our local MD communities. 
Registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Rescue. EIN # 46-4251348. Established in 2013.

COVID-19 UPDATE on Featured Felines at PetValu in Laurel:  Unfortunately until further notice we will not have the cats placed in the stores to help keep everyone a little bit safer and at home more! 

Towne Centre Laurel, 14712 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD 20707
ASHA has been given the honor and opportunity to be chosen as the local rescue to have their adoptable felines featured at the PetValu store in Laurel. You are welcome to stop in to say "Hi" to the kitties anytime the store is open (store hours and location is below). Adoption applications, business cards, donation bins for supplies and monetary contributions and information brochures are all located at the store.
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The PetValu employees are not allowed to open the cages. Meet and greet visits with the kitties are available by appointments only with an ASHA volunteer.
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If you are interested in adopting one or two of the kitties featured at PetValu in Laurel the first step is to complete an adoption application, located HERE on our website. From there we will schedule a Meet-and-Greet with you. One of our volunteers will meet you at the store so you can interact with the kitty and get to know it better. From there we will schedule a home visit with you to ensure you have a cat friendly and safe home. We bring the kitty with us to the home visit, so if all goes well they are adopted by you at that point. We also spend the time to help you set up the kitty in its isolation/ room.See our ADOPT page for more info!

Check out Pet Valu's website for upcoming events and info: us.petvalu.com

PetValu Addresses & Hours:
14712 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD 20707.
Parking & store access is available in both the front & rear of the building.
Open: Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm & Sunday 10am-6pm.
Please call the store to confirm hours for holidays: (301) 490-2160.

There is also a Donation Bin near the Rear Door - from the Harris Teeter Parking lot side. Please mark donations with "ASHA" so that we can be sure they do indeed go to us. Thank you!

Check ASHA out on Facebook & Instagram for Events, Updates and Adoptable Animals!

Facebook

All About ASHA:

ASHA is a registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Animal Rescue Organization and does not receive funding from the county, state or federal government. We operate on the donations of our public supporters, donations and animal fees. All proceeds and donations go directly for the care and welfare of the animals. NO salaries are paid. Donations, fees or sales ARE tax deductible since we are a registered non-profit. Donate on-line today via PayPal or send a check to "Animal Safe Haven" to P.O. Box 2773 Columbia, MD 21045.

We help animals that are in dire and extreme situations such as: Running up and down high ways or living in sewer systems. We work in areas that are too dangerous for original TNR programs, such as beside highways, in the center of the city or in a building planed to be demolished. We go the extra mile that other people and groups wont. We have many years of experience with domestic, stray, feral, abused & abandoned pets. Also; we have volunteers and board members with experience with small animals, farm animals, wild animals and exotic animals. We are dedicated to bettering the lives of any animal that is unwanted or homeless. Through rescue, rehab, spay and neuter, and  adoption; we strive to lessen the number of animals that suffer from abuse and neglect. We treat every and any animal as family from the moment it comes in to our care and forever more. Any Animal once rescued by us is welcome back any time later in the future no matter what.

We care about the animals because it is not their fault they are in the situation they are in, its never their fault. And because we are in a position where we can create a positive impact on their life we feel we must do all that we can. Stray and feral kittens and young cats that are caught and rescued are typically scared, aggressive and un-socialized at first. Thus; many places and people would deem them "un-adoptable" and would euthanize them on the spot, or send them back to the awful situation they came from.  We do not. We believe that with time, patience and love they are able to be rehabbed and eventually learn to trust humans. Some cats may take just days, others weeks or even months. Their options are limited if they do not shown that they can co-habitat with people; So we work hard to find the perfect forever family, or farm, for each rescued animal. So we will do what we can, as often as we can, to help the animals that are in need.

ASHA does NOT have a facility. We are a foster system that relies on volunteers like you to help care for and foster the rescued kitties in their homes. In doing so the kitties receive more one on one attention and thus we are better able to pair families with rescued kitties knowing the behaviors, attitudes, and personalities of each of them. We are always in need of more foster families! We prefer to have kitties fostered out independently; unless they are still under 8 weeks, or part of a bonded pair. Let us know what your living situation is like and what pets you already have and we will be able to match you with a foster kitty!

Information on ASHA's not-for-profit status:

Animal Safe Haven and Adoptions, Inc. is a Federal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Federal Employer Identification Number: 46-4251348 whose Articles of Incorporation were filed with the State of Maryland on December 12th, 2013 (effective date of exemption) with Public Charity Status 509(a)(2) under section 501(c)(3). Contributions made to ASHA are tax deductible. Our Letter of Determination from the IRS was received on July 29th, 2015 and any donations made after December 12th, 2013 may qualify for tax exemption. Our Accounting period ends December 31st. We are required to fill out a yearly 990/990-EZ/990-N.  Click HERE for info on 509(a)(2).

Directly from our letter of determination from the IRS: 
"Dear Applicant: 
We are pleased to tell you we determined you're exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to you under IRC Section 170. You're also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106 or 2522. This letter could help resolve questions on your exempt status. Please keep it fr your records. Organizations exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3) are further classified as either public charities or private foundations. We determined you're a public charity under the IRC Section listed at the top of this letter. 
Sincerely, Jeffery I. Cooper Director, Exempt Organizations Rulings and Agreements"

Our Legal Name is "Animal Safe Haven and Adoptions, Inc." and we often go by the abbreviated nickname "ASHA". ASHA operates on a 100% volunteer basis with all proceeds going to our cause and the animals. Any and all items or monetary donations go directly to the expenses of supporting these animals. This includes the necessary veterinary expenses, food, housing and care supplies. As well as the occasional office supplies, legal fees, advertising/event costs, merchandise expenses, website and technology fees etc. Individuals on the Board of Directors (BOD) are not paid for their positions. We offer 100% transparency and are happy to answer any questions and provide all financial information at any time. 

View our IRS submitted 990-N forms:

To search the IRS database for our submitted 990-N form filings:

Once at the web page irs.gov go to Charities and Nonprofits, then click "Tax-Exempt Organization Search", once on that page scroll down and click the "Tax Exempt Organization Search", fill out the search form and enter our EIN # 46-4251348 into the search box then click "Search".

That will bring up our filing records!

Contact Us:

Email: ASHAmaryland@gmail.com       Facebook: www.Facebookcom/ashamaryland       Instagram: @ASHAmaryland       P.O. Box 2773 Columbia MD 21045
ASHA does not have phone number that we offer to the general public. If you have any questions, concerns or need to contact us, please feel free to email us. We will reply ASAP. Addresses, phone numbers and names of foster families are kept confidential for the safety of the families and rescued animals. This information is only given to potential adopters and volunteers that have been properly screened by ASHA.

The Development of ASHA:

2000: My family and I began helping the homeless animals in our little corner of the world in about 2000; Just an animal here, an animal there. Then as word began to spread, by 2002 my family and I had begun to made a name for our selves; "the family that helps rescue animals." And as things happen, our weekend animal projects became our every day chores. - Jessica Kratz; Founder and President.


2008: Local rescues began to take notice of how much good we have done in the community and started suggesting we strike out and become an incorporated and registered nonprofit. This is when the research began. 


2013: ASHA took its first big steps on the path to becoming a registered non-profit rescue. First a Board of Directors (BOD) was created and ASHA had their first Board Meeting December 15th 2013. Second we applied for a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN or EIN). ASHA received a certified letter from the IRS December 11th, 2013 with the EIN # of 46-4251348. Third The Articles of Incorporation for a Tax-Exempt Non-stock Corporation was complete and filed. December 18th, 2013 we received our letter certifying us as "Animal Safe Haven and Adoptions, Inc." stamped and signed. Unlike receiving an EIN, the Articles of Incorporation had a filing fee of $262. The fourth step was to have ASHA's Bylaws written up and reviewed by the BOD. January 26th, 2014 ASHA had their second Board Meeting and the Bylaws were
unanimously approved. ASHA's Secretary, Linda, then dated, signed and filed it away. The fifth and last step of the year was to give ASHA an address, thus a mailbox. P.O. Box # 2773 in Columbia Maryland 21045 was then purchased to allow the public to send ASHA donations and cards.

2014: Our first step of the new year was to open a bank account for ASHA so that we could finally deposit the checks, donations and other payments made out to "Animal Safe Haven and Adoptions." PNC was the bank of choice since they are a local bank that offer a great savings and checking account for small businesses. 

We started putting together our financial papers for the last leg of the registering for nonprofit status, but some thing, usually a feral colony, litter of orphaned kittens or a pregnant mom distracted us. And then when we got back to the financial paperwork we would have to start all over since adoptions had been done, intake fees collected and vet bills paid. This vicious cycle continued through the year. 

2015: We finally found time! Finished the balance sheets and other financial papers, and submitted it, as well as the $400 filing fee to the IRS. We received our official letter from the IRS July 29th 2015 with our EIN #, our Public Charity Status of 509(a)(2) and our effective date of exemption of December 12th 2013. 

We use the Following Veterinary Services which Support Our Cause:

Spay Now - Laurel

7401 Van Dusen Rd.

Laurel MD 20707

301-483-7080

spaynowsurgery@gmail.com    

www.spaynow.com

Patapsco Valley Veterinary Hospital 

8525 Baltimore National Pike

# 5, Ellicott City, MD 21043

410-461-2235

patapscovalleyvet@verizon.net

www.patapscovalleyvet.com

Padonia Valley Veterinary Hospital

9827 York Rd.
Cockeysville, MD 21030

410-666-7878

info@padoniavets.com 

www.padoniavets.com


Emergency Veterinary Clinic

32 Mellor Ave # C,

Catonsville, MD 21228

410-788-7040

evccatonsvillemd@gmail.com

www.evccatonsville.com

Meet our Board of Directors:

Founder & President: Jessica Kratz
Born, raised, married and still living in Elkridge Maryland, I have always been an animal caretaker and nurse maid. in 2016 I became a mom to my first son - Leo, and then again in 2019 I had my second son - Wyatt. I have been a stay-at-home mom doing odd jobs and regular dog walking in between homeschooling the boys. I have an Associates of Arts from Howard Community College. I teach American Sign Language to kids at a local Montessori School. Through out the years I have worked at and/or volunteered with many different animal people, companies and rescues through out Maryland. I have met thousands of animals through out my many years in rescue, rehab, sales, volunteer, adoption, training and more. I worked at the Coventry School for Dogs and Their People, in Columbia from 2010 to 2015 where I was a full time Manager with the Doggie Day Camp and Boarding side. I have volunteered at Frisky’s Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary since the Mid '90's and have gained extensive knowledge and skills about wildlife and exotics. Colleen Layton, Frisky's Owner/Manager, has also been a giant supporter of my efforts in rescue, with out her we wouldn't be where we are today with ASHA. I worked full time at the Maryland State Department of Natural Resources at Soldiers Delight with the Scales and Tales Program during the summer of 2008. I gained a lot of experience learning, caring for and teaching others about domestic, exotic, endangered and local wildlife animals. For a year I was a sales person at PetSmart in Columbia, where I also cared for their many animals. From this job I learned a lot about products and customer service. Through the years I was a constant volunteer at The Animal Welfare Society of Howard County Maryland, mostly helping out as a vet tech, with exterior projects and cleaning up after animals. Personally I own 2 large Draft horses, 2 Border Collies, a couple dozen chickens, 3 sheep, 1 cat, 1 potbelly pig, and a few peacocks, all of which are rescues. Over the years my little acres hobby farm has gotten a little crowded :)  But, I have the time, resources, want and care to offer them all a safe & loving forever family and home, so I do so with pride. What can I say. My heart is soft when it comes to the animals!

Vice-President: Stephanie Edner

Born and raised in the heart of North-Central Pennsylvania, I moved to Maryland in 2000. I reside in Baltimore with my 2 adopted kitties (from ASHA) and pup. I’ve worked in the medical industry for over 14 years but my passion is advocating for companion animals. I volunteered and worked with The Animal Welfare Society of Howard County Maryland for many years. I also support and volunteer with Reform Baltimore County Animal Services, CAPA and Maryland Votes for Animals. I love seeing the love, excitement and trust of the animals when they realize they are finally rescued, safe and loved. That is one of the best moments you can ever witness and one of my life goals is to continue to help create that magical moment.

Treasurer: Matthew Buleza

Ever since I was in High School I knew what I wanted to be.  I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting.  I currently work full time in the core audit line of service at PriceWaterhouse Coopers, LLP. In my time at PwC, I have participated in the audit of a multi-million dollar not-for-profit organization.  Prior to starting with PwC, I worked as an Accountant's Assistant at Temple Isaiah, a not-for-profit organization, for 7 years and worked as a bookkeeper at the Town Center Community Association, a not-for-profit organization, for over 2 years. I have always had a special place in my heart for animals and our community, and I am very excited for the opportunity to be part of an organization that is dedicated to helping animals in need.

Secretary: Linda Ruiz Rojas

I was born and raised in the Netherlands Antilles and later came to the U.S. for schooling opportunities. I am now a wife and mother of four little ones, two being my Boxers and also my young son and daughter. I currently work full time at Howard Community College. I have over ten years of office and registration experience with extensive experience in all aspects of the student enrollment processes. I am very proficient in Microsoft Office, and database management, multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment, able to work effectively with multiple supervisors & fluent in Spanish. 

Kym Peters

Born in Texas and raised in Minnesota and Maryland, I currently live in Baltimore. I earned my BA in Art History and Museum Studies at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and shortly after I began a retail management career. I've always had love and compassion for animals from a young age exploring the woods behind my grandparents' house in Minnesota, which has led to a position managing a Pet Valu store in the DC-Metro area. It was at this store that I met Jessica and the rest of ASHA. Starting as a cage-cleaning volunteer, I was able to see firsthand the good work being done to help animals in need, and eventually found myself spending more and more of my free time helping out where I could within the organization. It's been an honor to be able to help out finding loving and caring homes for so many animals where they can thrive, and I look forward to growing alongside ASHA in the years to come. 

Tabitha Drum

Born in New Jersey, I served 4.5 years in the military until settling down in Maryland and recently being honorably discharged. Strong animal advocate and equally active in animal welfare, I have always made time to see to helping the animals that have crossed my path, even if I have to go out of my way to do so. I have many years of personal and professional experience working with, and caring for, animals of all sizes and temperaments. I have many furr-god babies and friends. I own 3 furr-baby currently and I foster frequently to help provide a loving, caring home and socialization to animals in need; giving them a better chance at finding a forever family. My future career plans include working to change legislation to help support healthy rescues and better the lives of rescued animals.

Our Mission: Not only a Statement

Animal Safe Haven and Adoptions, Inc. (ASHA) works to help rescue as many stray, feral, abandoned, homeless and abused animals from our community, the cities and the counties; as possible. We work to end the suffering of overpopulation and unwanted animals, to effectively reduce the number of animals abandoned and abused by supporting spay/neuter programs. Provide temporary foster care for pets of people in a crisis who want their animals back. Catching, vetting & relocating feral colonies from dangerous areas in order to eventually end the suffering of all feral cats. We take in and adopt out cats, dogs, small animals and farm pets from all of Maryland. We provide food, shelter and vet care to the animals no matter what their age, breed or sex. With us they have no time limit to find the perfect forever family.