NANTUCKET SAFE HARBOR FOR ANIMALS INC

Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals, Inc., (NiSHA) opened its doors on January 1, 2012. In October, 2011, we learned that the MSPCA would be leaving the island on December 31 after 60 years as the island's only veterinary hospital and animal shelter. A group of dedicated volunteers determined that Nantucket could not be without a shelter for homeless animals and went to work creating a new animal shelter to fill the void. We received our 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status on May 15, 2012, with an effective date of December 15, 2011.

Our facility consists of five rented rooms at a local veterinary practice, Offshore Animal Hospital. We have the ability to house approximately 15 cats and 5 dogs on site (as well as birds, rabbits, ferrets and other small animals), and we utilize a network of foster homes to care for others. We also contract with the Town of Nantucket to accept stray cats and dogs brought in by the town's Animal Control Officer. Our programs include: adoptions; stray, abandoned, and surrendered animal care; financial assistance for both pet medical care and for spay/neuter surgeries; fostering; emergency pet boarding for clients of A Safe Place, the local domestic violence shelter; a pet food pantry; a volunteer program; and a robust year-round and summer Humane Ed program.