White Oak Animal Save Haven
White Oak Animal Safe Haven, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter that has been dedicated to providing care and finding loving homes to cats and dogs in need for the last two decades. Laura Massie started early on as a committed shelter volunteer before serving on the Board of Directors as the Vice President for four years. In 2021 she made the final step to become the acting shelter President and Executive Director. She has spent the last three years as president transforming White Oak Animal Safe Haven into the successful shelter it is today. Laura has focused on improving day to day operations of the shelter by fostering shelter staff and volunteer communication. In doing so, she has effectively increased the number of cats and dogs for which the shelter is able to intake and find perfect fur-ever homes! By holding high standards for the animals’ quality of care and implementing new protocols, Laura has improved the shelter function and prominence allowing her to initiate new community outreach programs. She has concentrated on community building through serving and educating White Oak and the surrounding areas in animal care and welfare.
White Oak Animal Safe Haven has offered low-cost veterinary wellness clinics as well as affordable feline spay and neuter clinics. The shelter also hosts an annual $5.00 Rabies vaccination clinic during the summer months to help families keep their animals up to date on vaccines and remaining healthy. The community, Mon Valley Paws, and other similar organizations regularly donate food and supplies to the shelter. These donations not only allow the shelter pets to receive amazing quality care, but also allow the shelter to provide further community support by pairing with pet food pantries. White Oak Animal Safe Haven has contributed to the Mckeesport Agape Center by donating excess pet food and supply donations to low-income families in the surrounding communities. These donations help families keep their beloved pets in their households by allowing them to provide adequate care, in turn decreasing the number of homeless animals in need of help. The shelter would not be able to save the lives of hundreds of pets each year without receiving grants and support from organizations like Mon Valley Paws. These funds allow the shelter to continue intaking animals and especially allows them to take in special needs animals and those in desperate need of vet care and TLC. Laura’s strong leadership and invaluable dedication to animal welfare, coupled with the support from outside resources, such as Mon Valley Paws, has helped provide the opportunities for the implementation and continuation of these valuable programs at the shelter and outreach to the community.
Mon Valley Paws 