Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering

02/07/2025

Ruff Haven Friends!

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We have spent years creating this page and we absolutely love sharing our stories with you. We want to make sure that you can continue to see our posts going forward. Thank you for your continued support. We could not do this without each and every one of you. 💚

02/05/2025

🐾 Puppy playtime + great company 🐾

This past weekend, some of our amazing volunteers gathered at The Front for a puppy play date! We’re so grateful to The Front for providing a space where our volunteers (and their pups!) can connect, relax, and have some fun together.

Building community is just as important as the work we do, and we love seeing our volunteers enjoy time with each other and their furry best friends. 💚

02/03/2025

Weekend Adventures with Nekko!

At Ruff Haven, we’re honored to give pets the love, care, and enriching experiences they deserve while they wait to be reunited with their families. This weekend, one of our amazing volunteers took Nekko on a hike, and he had the best time soaking up some mountain air!

“Nekko was very well-behaved on the leash and is the quietest husky I've ever seen!”

We love seeing our furry friends enjoy moments like these, thank you to our incredible volunteers who make them possible!

02/02/2025

🐾💚Volunteer Spotlight💚🐾

This month, we’re celebrating Brian, a dedicated Ruff Haven volunteer whose kindness and hard work make an incredible impact for pets and their people. We’re so grateful for his time, energy, and passion for helping pets and people in need. Thank you, Brian, for being part of the Ruff Haven family!

01/31/2025

Kicking Off the Annual Point-In-Time Count!

Early this morning, our team hit the streets for the first day of our annual Point-In-Time homelessness count—an effort to better understand and support our unsheltered neighbors.

From 4-6 AM, volunteers walked through the Marmalade District, just west of the Capitol, connecting with individuals experiencing homelessness and gaining a deeper appreciation for the diverse and resilient communities that make our city unique.

This count is more than just data collection—it’s about building connections, fostering empathy, and working toward solutions. We are a stronger, better country because of our diversity, not in spite of it.

Thank you to everyone who showed up (even the night owls who aren’t morning people!). Your dedication makes a difference. 💚

01/29/2025

Molly and Opi are a sweet brother-sister duo currently in our program! While they’re not a bonded pair and don’t need to be fostered together, they will eventually go back to their family together. For now, they just need loving foster homes to crash in!

Here’s what Molly’s current foster had to say:
“Molly has been an absolute joy to have around! This big, goofy bulldozer loves nothing more than trying to climb into your lap—usually right after getting a mouthful of water and drool. I really missed having a foster dog, and Molly has been the perfect fit!”
Now, let’s talk about her sweet brother, Opi—he’s still looking for a foster home!
Opi is a total softy who did amazing on our walk and was perfectly happy lounging on the couch, chewing on his toys. He’s a big baby with a lot of love to give! He can be a little unsure around cats, but otherwise, he’s a fantastic pup who deserves a cozy place to crash.

If you’ve been thinking about fostering, Opi would love to be your new couch buddy! Apply today at ruffhaven.org/foster and let’s get this sweet boy into a home!

01/28/2025

Want to make a difference in your community? Join Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering for our upcoming Point-in-Time Count and help us identify and support people and pets experiencing homelessness.

The Point-in-Time Count is a community effort to identify individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including their beloved pets. 🏠🐾 This annual event helps gather important data to improve services, resources, and support for those in need.

They are still looking for volunteers. The count starts THIS Thursday morning. We also donated 100 pet emergency kits to provide to unsheltered pet owners in need. If you would like to sign up and join the Ruff Haven team, you can indicate our organization on the sign up sheet.

By volunteering, you'll play a vital role in ensuring no one—human or pet—is overlooked. 💚

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/82ec4d18b2bd4829a1ae590e8ffa80b9

01/27/2025

We are excited to share two critical bills in the Utah legislature that could make a big difference for pets and their families: Senate Bill 0097 (SB97) and Senate Bill 0120 (SB120)!

SB97 ensures that emergency operations plans in Utah include provisions for personal pets during emergencies. This means families won’t have to choose between their safety and their beloved animals during crises. It’s a step toward better public safety, emotional well-being, and evacuation compliance.

At Ruff Haven, we know how much pets mean to their families, and we are proud to support this important legislation.

Get a FREE Pet Emergency Sticker!
To help keep your pets safe, we are giving away free pet emergency stickers for your home. These stickers let first responders know how many pets are inside in case of an emergency.

How you can help:
1- Show your support for SB97 and SB120 by contacting your local representatives.
2- Claim your free sticker by visiting https://www.ruffhaven.org/advocacy

Together, we can make a difference for pets and their people. Let's ensure no one gets left behind!

01/24/2025

🎉🎉The wait is over! 🎉🎉

The recording of Kimo Pokini, co-founder of Ruff Haven, at the 12th annual TEDx Salt Lake City main stage event is now available on YouTube!

Kimo was invited to speak at this prestigious event alongside other talented local presenters, all around the theme "Branching Out." His talk, titled "Branching out in our approach to animal welfare by underscoring that the well-being of pets is inseparable from the well-being of their people," explored a new perspective on how we can shift traditional animal welfare practices.

We are thrilled to share Kimo’s powerful insights on changing the landscape of animal welfare and how caring for pets is deeply connected to caring for the people who love them.

Check it out now and be inspired to see the world of animal (and human!) welfare through his perspective.
https://youtu.be/e0sRSxe-25k?si=sA6zIZHuMnnLo_73

01/23/2025

An enthusiastic team of GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America)students and guests helped put together 100 emergency bags for dogs and cats!

Co-Founders Stanley Stensrud and Kimo Pokini kicked things off with a short presentation, explaining how the various programs at Ruff Haven help out families and make our community stronger.

We want to thank everyone at GOYA for making this such a fantastic event!

01/22/2025

Ruff Haven welcomed these two sweet senior love bugs into our program to support their owner as she works through housing challenges.

Now, we’re looking for a loving foster home to keep them safe and happy until they can be reunited. Ideally, they’d love to stay together, but even a spot for one would make a huge difference!

Interested in fostering? Reach out to us at [email protected].
Together, we can give these seniors the care they deserve! 💚

❤️PULLED TOGETHER BY RESCUE❤️Looking for two lovable couch potatoes to join your family? Meet Opie and Molly, a pair of house hippos waiting for their forever home at South Salt Lake Animal Services!

Opie, a 7-year-old tan pup, has been through a lot. After enduring abandonment by three owners and surviving a house fire that left him with lasting trauma, this 80-pound bully mix has blossomed into a sweet, affectionate companion. He loves snacks, chomping on tennis balls, and cuddling with people and dogs alike. Don’t let his grumpy face fool you—Opie is all love.

Molly is a 5-year-old hippo who is allegedly working on her fitness goals for 2025. (Truthfully, Molly’s actual goals involve more couch time and Netflix, but the shelter thinks a few walks might be good for her!) According to her previous owner, Molly is quite the character: she’s vocal, loves watching TV, enjoys chasing squirrels, and proudly reigns as queen of the house 👑

These two best friends came to the shelter after their owner lost their home, and the shelter is hoping to find them a forever home together. Double the love, double the couch time!

Adoption fees are $75 each, and both are fixed, vaccinated, and microchipped. Come meet Opie and Molly at 2274 S 600 W, South Salt Lake, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

01/21/2025

Flashback to 2021: We got a call about two pugs, Bjorn and Ursa, whose owner, Josh, was hospitalized with COVID and had no one to care for them. Back then, there were no playbooks for helping pets during the pandemic, but we jumped into action. Safely and quickly, we brought Bjorn and Ursa into our care.

11 days later, Josh made a full recovery, and this little family was joyfully reunited. 💚

Fast forward nearly four years, and Bjorn and Ursa are thriving! These lovable “creatures of chaos” now visit us regularly in our boarding program when Josh travels. They even spent the holidays with us this year!

It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do. Supporting pets and their people for years to come is what it’s all about!

01/20/2025

🐾 Exciting things are happening at Ruff Haven! We’re thrilled to partner with Fit To Recover to bring the healing power of pets to the recovery community.

Last week, members of Fit to Recover participated in a special “walking class,” giving our Ruff Haven boarding dogs some much-needed exercise and socialization at Liberty Park. 🚶‍♂️🐕

This partnership is all about giving back, building connections, and creating a supportive community for both pets and people in recovery.

Together, we’re proving that a little kindness and a wagging tail can go a long way.

Learn more: https://www.ksl.com/article/51226795/crisis-no-longer-means-added-stress-about-where-pets-stay

ruffhaven.org
fit2recover.org

01/18/2025

A huge thank you to Neighborhood Veterinary Care for their incredible generosity during the 'Santa Paws' drive!
From December 1st to 31st, they collected donations that filled an entire shed with pet supplies for those in need.

Your kindness makes a big difference in our community. 🐶🐱

Is your company or large group interested in setting up your own donation drive? Check out our wishlists to see our most needed items at ruffhaven.org/waystogive

01/15/2025

🐱🐾We Need Cat Fosters!🐾🐱

We have a full house in Purradise City and we're in need of compassionate individuals to open their hearts and homes to our furry friends!

Fostering saves lives and helps provide a safe, loving environment for pets while they wait to be reunited with their families. Our foster sitters receive support from our team with basic supplies, vet care, and notes on behavior so we can make sure it’s the right fit! No matter your living situation, work schedule, or family, we can match you with the perfect short-term furry companion.

Interested in making a difference? Visit ruffhaven.org/foster to apply or learn more about our foster sitter program! 💚

01/14/2025

Many of you may have interacted with Kristina and the Ruff Haven co-founder team, but did you know the incredible story behind how it all started?

From her years as a social worker to founding a crisis shelter for pets, Kristina’s journey is one of compassion and determination.

Learn how she’s making a difference for families and their furry loved ones facing homelessness.

https://www.womansworld.com/life/animals/ruff-haven-a-shelter-for-families-and-their-pets-in-need

01/14/2025

Yesterday, we held our quarterly vaccine clinic and were able to help 222 cats and dogs get microchipped and up to date on key vaccinations which will help keep them healthy and safe!

A huge thank you to our incredible community partners Vetscursions, Humane Society of Utah, and Petco Love as well as our amazing volunteers for making this event a success. 💚

01/08/2025

Thank you to Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall for visiting Ruff Haven and working with us on designating Salt Lake City a certified Pet-Friendly city! Mars Petcare US has been certifying cities around the country for many years to recognize and celebrate those that have put programs and policy in place to make life better for people and pets. And now Utah is on the map!

Certified in the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program in 2024, Salt Lake City, Utah scored especially well in the Businesses trait of our pet-friendly cities model. Learn more at https://www.bettercitiesforpets.com/resource/salt-lake-city-ut/.