Frequently Asked Questions

---

Puffy Paws Kitty Haven, like many animal rescues, faces significant challenges in providing care for special needs and unwanted cats. Their biggest challenges include: 

• Financial Strain:
  • High operating costs: Running a rescue, especially one specializing in special needs animals, is expensive. Expenses include food, vet care, utility bills, rent for their business center, communication and awareness efforts, and vehicle maintenance.
  • Reliance on donations: Puffy Paws depends on donations from individuals and organizations, according to their website. Maintaining a consistent stream of donations is crucial for survival, especially in challenging economic climates.
  • Lack of emergency reserves: Puffy Paws faces the challenge of operating with limited or no emergency reserves, making them vulnerable to unexpected costs or events. They aim to raise one month of operating expenses to secure the cats' future in case of emergency.
• Animal-related challenges:
  • Special Needs Cat Care: Providing for cats with various medical and behavioral issues, such as feline leukemia, FIV, neurological disorders, and behavioral problems, requires specialized knowledge, resources, and often extensive veterinary care.
• Operational Challenges:
  • Fundraising: Consistently raising enough funds to cover daily needs, vet care, and operating expenses is a continuous struggle. They often need to fundraise daily just to keep their doors open.
  • Finding homes for unadoptable animals: Puffy Paws specifically cares for cats that may be considered "unadoptable" elsewhere, which can make it harder to find them permanent homes.
  • Community Awareness and Support: Increasing awareness about their mission and the importance of adoption and responsible pet ownership is an ongoing effort. 
  • 
    

In short, Puffy Paws Kitty Haven faces a constant battle to secure funding and resources to meet the daily needs of their special cats, manage their care, and continue their work in a challenging environment. 

 Puffy Paws Kitty Haven cannot have visitors, volunteers, or conduct adoptions and surrenders at the Haven itself due to Sarasota County Code Enforcement.

 The Haven, located in a residential neighborhood, is restricted from operating as a business due to code enforcement.

 Business activities, including foot traffic, are prohibited at the Haven. 

The organization utilizes a separate "Business Center" for these functions, which includes a quarantine room and handles wholesale purchases of cat food .