History & Who We Are

Since opening, SAFE Haven for Cats has orchestrated the adoptions of more than 17,000 cats and kittens and spayed or neutered more than 60,000 cats, kittens, and small dogs in our clinic.

During the 2024-25 fiscal year, 1,117 cats and kittens were adopted; 6,825 cats, kittens, and small dogs were sterilized in our clinic; and hundreds of animals were fed through our Pet Food Pantry.

The shelter began in the two-car, heated, and air-conditioned garage of founder Pam Miller in 1994. SAFE Haven’s first 400 cats were adopted from that garage. Five years later, SAFE Haven moved to a larger facility in a business center on Durant Road in Raleigh, opening the Triangle’s first permanent no-kill shelter for cats. In 2001, the SAFE Care Spay / Neuter Clinic was opened, a major initiative. At that time, it was the only freestanding clinic for cats in North Carolina. In 2012, SAFE Haven launched a pet food pantry to supply food to low-income households or people experiencing temporary financial hardship who are in danger of having to give up their companion animals. SAFE Haven has expanded twice and now occupies rental space in two buildings: one space for the adoption center and the other for the spay/neuter clinic.

SAFE Haven gets no government funds and relies entirely on individual donors, grants, and its own fundraising initiatives, including the Tuxedo Cat Ball. SAFE Haven spends 83 percent of its annual budget on its programs and services. Only 17 percent goes to administrative costs. Volunteers are on-site at the Shelter and Clinic seven days a week and volunteered a combined total of 10,640 hours in 2024-25.

SAFE Haven for Cats has come a long way from its humble beginnings in a two-car garage. Our growth and impact are powered entirely by donors’ generosity, volunteers’ dedication, and the unwavering belief that every cat deserves a loving home, a full tummy, and a warm place to sleep. As we look ahead, SAFE Haven remains committed to its no-kill mission—working tirelessly to ensure that every cat has the opportunity to live a safe, healthy, and loved life. 

Community Awards

Thank you to our community for recognizing our work to save the lives of cats in the Triangle!

2022

News & Observer Best Of – Silver – Best Nonprofit Organization

2021

WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards – Best Nonprofit Organization & Best Volunteer Organization