Important Update:

Since this campaign was launched, the three directors connected with Regional Animal Protection Society have resigned from the board of Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven Society, and Eyal Lichtmann has stepped down from his role as a consultant. While this is an important step, the broader concerns about governance, transparency, and member rights at the Haven remain unresolved. Members are continuing to seek accountability through proper governance processes, which is why legal representation is still necessary.

Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven has been dedicated to supporting the needs of cats in our community for the past 23 years. We need your help to protect the Safe Haven, and we need to act FAST!

We’re at risk of losing our community run cat shelter to a Richmond- based organization called RAPS (Regional Animal Protection Society).

This organization has already inserted three of their board members onto the Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven board, and is increasingly controlling and interfering in the operation of our local shelter, and medical outcomes of the cats in its care. They’re also recruiting their Greater Vancouver based members to ‘save the Safe Haven’ in a membership drive to unfairly influence an upcoming election with their votes.

Why are Richmond citizens being encouraged to join, and have voting power for a Chilliwack based rescue? Follow the money! Safe Haven’s five acre parcel has been valued at $2.5M. Their Executive Director has been quoted as looking for owned land for RAPS – starting to make sense?

We have a mission to protect the Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven’s assets, cats, members, staff and volunteers that have been in operation in Chilliwack since 2003. Our founder Ena Vermerris created a legacy that we must protect from those seeking to exploit this land and our community’s shelter for their own gain.

RAPS has an alleged history of unethical use of fundraised dollars and labour disputes involving wrongful termination and false allegations against staff that negatively impacted their reputations. Anonymous sources speak to inadequate staffing and supplies in their shelter/sanctuary, and the use of intimidation and litigation to silence Management when issues are brought forward. We must protect the high standards of care that are in place at the Safe Haven, and the fair treatment of its staff, and volunteers.

You can help! Share this campaign, donate whatever you can and stand together with us as we fight to keep RAPS out of the management of Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven!

Every dollar raised will go to legal costs and disbursements as we fight to keep this asset under the control of the community of Chilliwack!

Learn more about our cause at https://www.savethecats.ca/