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.

ASHA's Background

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, private donations and animal adoption processing 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. 


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, 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. 

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!

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 make a name for ourselves; "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 completed 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 9488 Catonsville, MD 21228-9998 was purchased to allow the public to send ASHA monetary 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 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 rest of the year. 

2015: We finally found time! Finished the balance sheets and other financial papers, and submitted them, 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. 

Behind the Curtain: ASHA's Board of (Volunteer) Directors

Jessica Kratz - Founder & President 

Born, raised, married, and still living in Elkridge Maryland, I have always been an animal caretaker and nurse maid. I have an AA degree from Howard Community College. I am also a part time student at CCBC where I am enrolled to become an American Sign Language Interpreter. I hope to one day combine my love of ASL and animals and be able to interpret for vet visits, training, adoption events and more. Throughout the years I have worked at and/or volunteered with many different animal people, companies, and rescues throughout Maryland. I have met thousands of animals throughout 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 section. I have volunteered at Frisky’s Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary since the mid '90s and have gained extensive knowledge and skills about wildlife and exotic animals. Colleen Layton, Frisky's Owner/Manager, has also been a giant supporter of my efforts in rescue, without 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 salesperson 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, 6 sheep, 2 cats, 2 potbelly pigs, 3 peacocks, and a few ducks, all of which are rescues. Over the years my little acres hobby farm has gotten a little crowded :) But, I have the time, resources, desire, 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!

Tabbie Drum - Vice President

Born in New Jersey, I moved around with my family several times during my childhood. From New Hampshire to Pennsylvania to Henderson, NV, I always had animal companions to help me feel at home. From Nevada I served 5 years in the military until settling down in Baltimore after being honorably discharged. I am a passionate animal advocate and activist. 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 started volunteering at 7 years old with my mom, mucking stalls at a horse farm in exchange for riding lessons in New Hampshire. Over the years my mom and I rescued 8 cats and made them part of our luckily large home in rural NE PA.
Every duty station I had in the military was another opportunity to volunteer with a new rescue organization, from Redwings Horse Sanctuary and the SPCA of Monterey County in California to a retired Quarterhorse farm in Texas. These many years of personal and professional experience working with, and caring for, animals of all sizes and temperaments cemented my love and respect for all creatures. My husband and I own 3 cats that we took in from ASHA in 2017 as kittens. I foster frequently to help provide a loving, caring home and rehabilitation & socialization to animals in need; giving them a better chance at finding a forever family. I'm currently in the process of getting a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition Science so I can start a new career as a Registered Dietician to fulfill my passions for healthcare and food.

Matt Buleza - Treasurer

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.

Linda Ruiz Rojas - Secretary 

I was born and raised in the Netherlands Antilles and later came to the U.S. for school 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 & am 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.