CEDAR RAPIDS—Dogs Forever Safe Place, a unique concept in animal welfare, will hold an open house Saturday, May 5, at 3800 Wilson Avenue SW. “Safe Place is exactly that—a place where dogs are safe while we figure out a plan for the next phase of their life,” says Crist, who founded Dogs Forever with her husband Mike in March 2011.

She says this “next phase” may mean transferring a dog to a reputable rescue or no-kill shelter or moving the dog to a Dogs Forever foster home. “A dog may also be adopted while they’re at Safe Place,” explains Crist. “We are open every Saturday from 11 to 3 and the public is invited to meet our dogs.”

The dogs that come to Safe Place are picked up as strays by county or city authorities in eastern Iowa. The dogs are either held at an animal shelter or in the case of counties without a shelter, held at a local veterinary clinic. If not reclaimed by their owner, the dogs are at risk of being euthanized. Through a network of rescues, shelters and animal advocates, Crist learns about dogs that are at risk. “Their time may be running out because of overcrowding in a shelter or because a county has no shelter where the dog can stay until adopted.”

Safe Place also provides:

· A Meet ‘n’ Greet area where you can get acquainted with dogs available for adoption.

· Dogs Forever Store, with quality new and used items for dogs and the people who love them.

· A Memory Wall that celebrates the memory of your beloved pet when you make a $25  donation.  

Contact: Nancy Crist
319-481-0977 or nancycrist@netins.net

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