Hope from tragedy: Arizona no-kill shelter finds "perfect match" in defunct cat rescue

Scottsdale's Tracy Petefish and her partner, Chris Pischke ran SOS Kitty for 14 years, rescuing and housing up to 70 cats at one time.

But following the tragic death of her husband last fall, Tracy found that she no longer could afford to keep the operation running.

Enter Arizona Safe Haven for Animals, a nonprofit no-kill shelter looking for the right facility in which to set up shop.

Up until now, Safe Haven—which relies entirely upon volunteers and donations—operated primarily in the capacity of foster care, with members of the board and others housing animals within their own homes until they could be adopted.

Now, with funds low and rent to be paid, the nonprofit has the opportunity to help her with her problem while continuing her cause—and moving their own operations to the next level.

"It really is a perfect match," says Laura Nordan, Secretary of Safe Haven. "We have been looking for the right place for a long time, and to know that we’d be helping Tracy just makes it that much more special to all of us."

The operation will not be cheap, however.

Nordan says the house will require at least $2500 a month to run, all of which will need to be raised via donations.

To donate by check or money order:
Safe Haven for Animals
PO Box 25698
Tempe, AZ 85285

To donate online: