Meet the Kingstons A Lifelong Commitment to Kitties In Need.

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 Our Story: The History of Puffy Paws Kitty HavenLocated in Englewood, Florida, Puffy Paws Kitty Haven is a non-profit, cage-free, free-roaming cat hospice and rescue."We provide specialized, loving care to senior, special needs, and unwanted cats who have absolutely nowhere else to turn."📅 Our Journey & Important Milestones:

• 1997 (28 Years Ago) — The Unofficial Beginning: The mission started in the home of Chrissy and Rick Kingston.

• 1997 – 2006 — Years of Personal Sacrifice: Over eleven years, the Kingstons spent over $100,000.00 of their own money and thousands of hours caring for cats.

• The Legend of Poo-Puffy Paws: Named after a frail but happy kitten who passed away during Hurricane Charley, representing our belief that one kitty at a time can change a heart.

• Nov 20th, 2006 — Official Incorporation: Puffy Paws became a registered Not-for-Profit Corporation.

• March 23, 2009 — Administrative Progress: Our formal structural status was successfully finalized.

• The Global Turning Point (Pet Pulse News): In October 2008, our mission was featured on Pet Pulse News and prominently highlighted on the New York Post website. Following this media coverage, the number of residents under our care instantly doubled. It proved to us that when we speak out honestly about our daily plight, the whole world listens, cares, shares, and steps up to help us protect these vulnerable animals.

• Fall 2009 — Establishing Separate Facilities: This is our true story—a documented history showing how logistical hurdles could never trump real dedication. In order to scale our operations effectively and expand our community footprint, our management structure had to evolve. Following a review of residential property zoning guidelines, local county administrators determined that public-facing services could not be operated directly out of a residential zone.This required a permanent "NO FOOT TRAFFIC" operational baseline at our primary location, effectively moving all volunteer coordination, on-site public adoptions, and animal intake away from the physical facility. While this adjustment created a massive logistical hurdle—shifting the grueling 16-to-20-hour daily physical labor of property management, resource distribution, and extensive sanctuary cleaning onto Chrissy's shoulders as she quietly navigates severe chronic health struggles—it failed to pause our mission.

• A Tale of Three Spaces: The Haven vs. The Business Center / The Pop Culture Antique Museum: To remain completely aligned with local zoning rules, our daily footprint is carefully divided across specialized commercial and care properties.The Haven property features two distinct buildings designed for free-roaming comfort: a 3,600 square foot main building for our healthy and long-term stable residents, and a separate 800 square foot medical care facility dedicated to chronic illness management, continuous therapeutic support, and an on-site hospitality space.Conversely, The Business Center serves as our primary commercial office space. This off-site location handles all online outreach, administrative paperwork, wholesale supply shipments, intake meetings, and transitional care procedures to ensure total compliance with local structural rules.

• 2009 – Reaching Statewide Fame via Creative Funding: While most traditional organizations open standard thrift shops to bridge funding gaps, Puffy Paws launched an entirely unique concept. 

• To fund our commercial infrastructure, the off-site Business Center was paired with an immersive fundraising venue: The Pop Culture Antique Museum.This retro storefront grew into a celebrated Florida roadside attraction and a top regional destination for collectors, retro gamers, and vintage pop culture enthusiasts. 

• This high-traffic commercial storefront provides a vital stream of supplemental monthly revenue to sustain our care operations, manage administrative filing data, and fund off-site resource management.

• The Hurricane Emergency Recovery & The New Center: After operating out of our original office location since 2009, regional environmental damage during Hurricane Ian completely flooded the workspace, forcing an immediate relocation due to structural safety concerns. 

• Refusing to let the mission pause, all commercial management activities and museum storefront assets were permanently transferred to our current headquarters at 191 S. McCall Road, Englewood, Florida.

• This expanded 5,000 square foot dual-unit commercial property secures our specialized fundraising hubs, handles bulk supply drops, and keeps our infrastructure completely compliant with municipal standards.

• 2023 — A Personal Sacrifice for the Rescue: In 2023, following a profound personal loss in the Kingston family, Rick chose to invest close to $70,000.00 of his personal family inheritance directly back into the facility. This immediate financial lifeline covered escalating operational overhead, maintained necessary temperature control systems, and settled clinic statements during a challenging economic period, prioritizing the welfare of our residents above all else.

• 2024 — Structural Reinstatement Update: Puffy Paws Kitty Haven is actively working to restore our official IRS 501(c)(3) status following filing issues from a previous accounting firm. We take full responsibility and are working with financial experts to resolve the gaps, while 100% of ongoing support continues toward care for our 120 residents.

 🐾 Facing Our Reality Today: Keeping the Doors Open for 120 Residents

• Today, Puffy Paws Kitty Haven is home to 120 special-needs cats who depend on us for every breath, meal, and medical treatment. But the truth is, the landscape of animal care has completely changed. Back in the day, reaching cat lovers across the globe was a beautiful, natural connection.

• Today, due to shifting online environments and a heavy economic climate, connecting with the people who love these animals has become an uphill battle.

• Sadly, many sanctuaries are watching their visibility drop without understanding why. Puffy Paws, however, is staying ahead of the curve. We have been actively adjusting our strategy for over three years to ensure our voice—and our cats—are never silenced by online hurdles.

• While many rescues have tragically been forced to close their doors because of these intense challenges, Puffy Paws is still standing. We are only here today because our beautiful, loyal family of long-time supporters has poured their hearts into lifting us up, keeping the lights on, and the food bowls filled.

• However, to secure the tomorrow and long-term future of Puffy Paws, we urgently need fresh energy. We must connect with new friends, new advocates, and a new generation of cat lovers to join our global village and help carry this vital mission forward.

• It takes twenty-five thousand dollars a month to keep this entire life-saving mission alive for our 120 residents. When you break that down, it means our operations require about thirty-four dollars and twenty-five cents an hour, every single day, 365 days a year just to keep moving forward.

• No matter what obstacles are thrown our way, Chrissy and Rick remain firmly focused on the solution. We focus on the grace of today while meticulously planning for the future of our 120 residents. We will continue to improvise, we will adapt, and we will overcome every hurdle—because these cats have nowhere else to go, and their lives are worth the fight.