GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — While its building was ultimately condemned, the skies seem to have cleared for Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary as they have found a temporary new home.
Now, Safe Haven is looking to get into the empty space at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Green Bay’s west side.
“They offered us significant amount of space, and they said we could choose how much to pay for the rent,” said Joe Becker, Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary Board of Directors President.
47 cats were displaced after Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary’s roof caved in two weeks ago.
“We estimate there was probably 10,000 pounds of water on the roof. It simply couldn’t support it and the roof caved in,” said Becker.
Safe Haven was permitted to run its sanctuary at its location on Broadway. But that permit that can’t be transferred.
So, no matter where the sanctuary wants to move to permanently, a new permit is required; Meaning the cats will have to stay with their fosters or at Pawffee Shop, a Safe Haven affiliate in Appleton, for a while longer.
However, the city of Green Bay says it said the sanctuary could receive a temporary use permit so long as the new use doesn’t substantially change the current use of the site.
The key word is temporary. If Safe Haven was looking to make this church its new permanent home, a zoning change would be required.
The city added it could turn around an application in just a few days. It says right now, it’s waiting to receive information from Safe Haven.
The church is looking forward to the possible partnership.
“That can, yes, bring in individuals to our church and actually, a lot of our church members are very excited about this to partner up with them,” said St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Board of Trustees Chair Kris Engebretson.
Safe Haven says it’s actively searching for a permanent location while working to secure its temporary one.
“Being in here takes the pressure off that. We don’t need to find the first building that’s gonna work. We could find a building that will work well,” said Becker.
Safe Haven says if the move into St. Paul’s is approved, it will once again be open to the public.
Safe Haven also said the community support has been extremely heartwarming. A GoFundMe to raise money for a new building has brought in more than $60,000 dollars.
