Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary was started in 1996 by Juanita Fisher.  She had been a visitor/volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, and wanted the same type of organization for Dona Ana County. She invited Faith Mahoney, Best Friends Director, to come to Las Cruces to address people who might be interested in animal rescue and adoption. About 150 people attended the talk, some of whom are still with Safe Haven.  
 

With no funding and no permanent location, Juanita set out to rescue as many cats and dogs as possible.

Juanita's friends, Gitti and Ken Cronin also rescued animals. They lived on five acres on the east mesa and they agreed to take more animals on a temporary basis. The Cronins and their children cared for the animals until adoptive homes could be found 
 

A short time after starting the project, a man from Deming offered SHAS 110 acres for $1.00 a year on a hundred-year lease. It was very exciting, so the land was cleared, roads were graded, storm drains installed, and a well and pump were put in. With a great deal of hoopla, a huge sign was erected declaring this as SAFE HAVEN ANIMAL SANCTUARY. Unfortunately, it was discovered that the well would not support the operation that was planned, and there were no water rights that could be bought from the surrounding parcels.  
 

So, SHAS was on hold for a while until the Cronins decided to move. SHAS purchased 2.7 acres from them and decided to make this their permanent home. Moving to the Cronin Ranch involved a lot of work and improvements were made to the property.  Shortly after this, Juanita decided to move to Texas and a Board of Directors was selected and SHAS became a not for profit corporation.