Celebrating 25 years of fighting animal cruelty
What started as a community response to the killing of Pasado the donkey is now a mighty force for animals in our region.
A legacy of compassion
Pasado’s Safe Haven was founded in 1997 following the brutal and senseless killing of Pasado the Donkey at a community farm in Bellevue, WA. What started as a tragic event has now created a movement that is changing the world for animals for good. Over the last 25 years our programs have evolved to be among the most impactful in the country. Our four focus areas take a comprehensive approach to solving a complex problem. We are not only helping save individual animals, we are also working to improve the systems that impact animals most in our society. And we are just getting started!
Our comprehensive programs tackle animal cruelty
We not only help save individual animals, we also work to improve the systems that impact animals most in our society.
A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE FOR ANIMALS
Over the last 25 years we have transformed the landscape for animals in Washington and beyond. In addition to rescuing thousands of individual animals, we have strengthened laws, provided trainings to ensure laws are enforced, introduced humane education to classrooms, improved access to basic pet care for income qualified families and insisted that animals be treated as individuals worthy of care and protection. Below are just a few highlights of our work.
1997
Pasado's Legacy Ignited a Voice for animals
Pasado was a beloved 21 year-old donkey who touched the lives of countless people with his sweet personality and joyful, innocent presence. On the night of April 15, 1992, three teenage boys snuck into his pasture and brutally killed him. While his death was unforgiveable, out of the tragedy a movement was born firmly rooted in a legacy of love. Since then, Pasado's Safe Haven and our supporters now fight to create a better world for animals.
2000
First large-scale hen rescue saves 1,000 lives
Pasado's Safe Haven completed our first large-scale rescue of 1,000 hens, who had been left to starve to death at an abandoned egg farm in Lake Stevens, Washington. Our team of volunteers searched through 50,000 dead, rotting chickens to rescue the starving survivors and helped nurse them back to health. We supplied video, photos and necropsies of the starved hens to help convict the farmer, which was the first conviction of an egg farmer in the U.S for animal cruelty. Pictured: The survivors had spent their life crammed in wire cages unable to stand, so we made makeshift slings to accustom their feet to bearing weight.
2001
First mobile spay station deployed in WA
Our very first mobile first Spay Station was deployed to offer low cost spay/neuter services in our community. To date, we have performed over 62,600 spay/neuter surgeries for income qualified families, helping to reduce shelter over-population and unnecessary euthanasia. We also operate a pet food bank program to get necessary food and supplies to families most in need.
2002
Tommy rescued and fitted with first-ever prosthetic for a cow
Tommy, a young calf, was left maimed after being attacked in a field at night. His mother was shot between the eyes, and three other cows were killed. Pasado's Safe Haven rescued Tommy, and he was fitted with the first-ever prosthetic for a cow to help him walk. Pasado's issued a reward and found the three teen boys responsible, who received jail time for their crime.
2004
Helped pass four animal welfare bills
As part of our ongoing advocacy initiatives designed to reduce animal suffering, this critical milestone made the following legislation pass in Washington state: • Illegal to drag a downer cow to her slaughter • Animal neglect became a felony • Bestiality became a felony • Animal abandonment became a misdemeanor
2005
Pasado's Safe Haven leads major rescue team for Hurricane Katrina
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which left thousands of animals injured and displaced, Pasado's Safe Haven lead a major rescue team to New Orleans. Unfortunately, people weren't allowed to bring their animals with them when they evacuated. Many animals were wandering without food or water, and others were left chained up. During our efforts on scene, we rescued 1,200 dogs and cats, many in dire need of immediate medical attention.
2010
First Bucky Award presented to officers and prosecutors
After a sweet dog named Bucky is brutally killed by his owner’s boyfriend, Pasado’s Safe Haven presents the first ever Bucky Award in memory of Bucky and the officers and prosecutors working on his case. This special recognition is part of our ongoing effort to help train, support and acknowledge law enforcement and prosecutors. Each year, the winners are awarded money for further animal cruelty investigations and prosecution related training, equipment and tools.
2014
Began trainings for law enforcement
In 2014, we began offering training to law enforcement, animal control, veterinarians and prosecutors to improve the response to crimes against animals and how these crimes are investigated and prosecuted. This is an important resource as many officers and jurisdictions receive no formal training for animal crimes. We actively collaborate with law enforcement by providing comprehensive resources including equipment, personnel, medical, and sanctuary for evidence animals taken into custody. We also provide evidence holding for deceased animals and provide medical and photographic evidence to prosecutors to help ensure the strongest prosecution of perpetrators.
2015
24 baby goats rescued from being bludgeoned to death
After being saved from death at a local dairy, we safely transported 24 newborn and weeks-old baby goats to our sanctuary where they received round-the-clock medical care and bottle feeding. After recovering, the boys learned how to be "kids" and eventually all found loving homes. Sadly, the brutal practice of killing male babies is considered standard and widely practiced in the dairy industry.
2016
New Day Northwest Features Ziggy
Sanctuary resident Ziggy the turkey was featured as an on-air guest for a special vegan Thanksgiving cooking show. Each year, our holiday alternative Thanksgiving for the Turkeys celebration shows people how easy and delicious it can be to celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving without harming any animals.
2017
Launched first ever capital campaign to improve aging facilities
As our reach and scope of service have expanded, our aging sanctuary facilities struggled to keep pace. So we embarked on the Kiss Animal Cruelty Goodbye capital campaign, the first in our organization’s history, to help fund improvements across our sanctuary campus that will allow us to continue our fight for the decades ahead. This includes a new Cow Barn, Dog Towne, Kitty City, Center for Compassion and water/fire infrastructure.
2018
255 dogs saved from puppy mill
Pasado’s Safe Haven supported American Humane with a 255 puppy mill rescue from two illegal puppy mill operations. As soon as the dogs were released from police custody, we helped facilitate transportation and additional rescue partners throughout Western Washington. The dogs were frightened and needed ongoing medical attention. Their bodies were exhausted from having multiple litters, and many had eye infections and painful, rotting teeth. But they were finally free. We welcomed 51 of these sweet survivors to our sanctuary and eventually found each one a loving home. Our Investigations & Rescue Team is uniquely trained to respond to large scale rescues just like this.
2019
Launched first summer Compassion Camp for kids
Our annual summer Compassion Camps offers school-aged youth a truly immersive learning experience at our sanctuary campus. Campers get to spend the majority of their day outside, exploring our 85-acre sanctuary that the rescued animal residents call home. These camps are centered around inspiring youth to reimagine our relationship with other animals through hands-on projects, meet and greets with animal experts, art, music and more!
2020
Passed comprehensive "Cruelty Cleanup" bill
Our Animal Cruelty Cleanup Bill closed many of the loopholes, omissions, and archaic language in our current animal cruelty laws, further strengthening animal cruelty statute in Washington. This included removing the requirement for prosecutors to prove sexual gratification to convict First Degree Animal Cruelty in cases of sexual assault against animals, removing "economic distress" as a defense to animal cruelty in the second degree, clarifying language around the abandonment of animals to provide more resources for abandoned animals, and prohibiting persons convicted of animal cruelty crimes from owning any animals for specific periods of time.
2020
Started the Pasado's Pen Pal Program
When many in person opportunities were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we started the Pasado's Pen Pal program to connect youth with animals from afar. This simple, yet effective program taps into children's natural interest in other animals and creates an opportunity for them to view animals as their friends, all while practicing their writing and reading skills.
2021
Launched "Animal Cruelty Investigations" training to all 10,000+ active law enforcement officers
Working with the Washington State Police Academy and the Marysville Police Department, we created a course for law enforcement officers across the state on conducting animal cruelty investigations to improve the police response to these unique cases. This course makes animal cruelty investigation training available on demand to all commissioned law enforcement officers throughout Washington State and counts toward officers’ continuing education requirements.
2021
Launched Compassionate Classroom curriculum
This evidenced based curriculum brings empathy promoting humane education into the classroom through a series of self-paced lessons and activities. We strategically connected the Compassionate Classroom to related national school standards and also use Social and Emotional Learning and Character Education concepts to inspire youth to grow their circle of compassion to include all living beings.
2022
Offering animal cruelty training to judges at Washington's Judicial Conference
This first of its kind class will focus on the critical link between animal cruelty and domestic violence, child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and elder abuse. Judges play a critical role in ensuring that crimes against animals are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. By raising awareness about animal cruelty and understanding its deep connection to violence against people, we can improve the way our criminal justice system treats both human and animal victims.
NAMED OUTSTANDING FARMED ANIMAL SANCTUARY of 2021
We are proud to have been selected as the Outstanding Farmed Animal Sanctuary of 2021 by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). This award recognizes excellence in humane and responsible animal care; professionalism and ethics; organizational sustainability; public engagement; and contributions to, and leadership within, the sanctuary field. Pasado’s Safe Haven is one of just four recipients in the world to be recognized as an outstanding sanctuary this year and the only one to receive the Outstanding Farmed Animal Sanctuary award.
Our legislative impact
Through our advocacy efforts, Pasado’s Safe Haven has been a regional leader in driving important policy changes on behalf of animals. Below are the critical milestones that we and our supporters helped make possible in Washington State.
1994
“Pasado’s Law” passes and 1st degree animal cruelty becomes felony
2004
Animal neglect is considered animal cruelty & sexual assault of an animal becomes a crime
2005
Illegal to drag “downer cows” to slaughter
2009
Dog breeding standards strengthened
2011
Battery cages for hens phased out by 2024
2016
Anti dog tethering regulations law passed
2018
Dog and cat leasing banned
2019
Sale of eggs from battery cages to be phased out by 2024
2019
Animal fighting provisions strengthened and limitations on breed discrimination law passed
2020
Animal Cruelty Cleanup law passes, closing outdated loopholes
2021
Retail pet sales ban passes with exemptions
2022
Funding for plant-based meals in schools included in budget
