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Molly Ryan
Nonprofit Profile | Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary
Heather Burnett, the founder of Noah’s Ark, plays with two of her own dogs that she rescued from animal abusers.
By Molly Ryan
Heather Burnett calls herself a matchmaker.
At her no-kill animal shelter,
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, she pairs
previously abandoned and neglected animals
with loving owners and happy homes.
In the 20 years since she founded Noah’s
Ark, Burnett has matched thousands of
animals with new owners. She is also
determined to educate the public about
animal abuse and proper animal care, stop
animal cruelty and provide any animal she
has room for with the tender care it needs.
“We are probably the only business
that would love to be put out of business,”
Burnett said. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if
we didn’t exist? If there were homes for all
the abandoned animals?”
Burnett said she has loved and cared for
animals her entire life. She first became
professionally involved with animal rescue
services when she started the Samoyed
Rescue Service of South Texas.
“I was showing Samoyed dogs when I
realized I was more into the rescue part of
the animal world.”
Soon after she started the Samoyed
Rescue Service, she decided she wanted to
provide all animals with loving homes. In
1990, she opened Noah’s Ark to do so.
“We’re here because we have to be here,”
Burnett said. “It’s my love of animals and
working with and teaching the kids that
visit here that keeps me going.”
Today, Noah’s Ark can house more than
30 dogs and cats, a handful of rabbits,
hamsters, birds and other exotic animals
and a few rescue horses. Most animals are
available for adoption.
Noah’s Ark also serves as an educational
facility. School and charity groups from
the Cypress area come to the shelter to
learn about animal care and the problem
of abuse.
“We teach kids the importance of caring
for animals and proper pet ownership
skills,” Burnett said. “Several animals, like
some horses, are here for just education.”
In her lessons, Burnett stresses the fact
that Noah’s Ark is a no-kill shelter, meaning
that it does not euthanize any animals.
All animals are admitted on a first-come,
first-serve basis. However, since the shelter
only has a limited amount of space, many
animals are turned away.
“We want to put all animals in a happy
home where they can be loved, but there
are just too many animals that we cannot
accept,” Burnett said. “The lucky ones get
to stay here.”
In order to keep the shelter running,
Burnett and her few employees rely
solely on donations and volunteers from
the public. Some notable contributions
include a horse barn donated and built
by Eagle Scouts and a butterfly garden
donated by Hewlett-Packard.
Burnett said she hopes to serve the public
more by expanding her facilities and
renaming the shelter the Harris County
Humane Society. With this title, which
Burnett expects to obtain in the coming
months, the shelter can receive grants and
have veterinarians on staff to spay and
neuter animals. The shelter will also be
able to expand and house more animals.
Heather Burnett’s pet care tips
Spay or neuter your pet. Harris County is already
overpopulated with pets. Do not help contribute
to this problem.
Children should feed the family pet. Make sure
children feed the pet before they feed themselves.
This will teach them the importance and
responsibility of caring for a pet.
Check your dog food label. It should have a high
supply of nutrients, and it should not include corn.
Corn is a filler food and does not sate hunger.
Vaccinate your pet. Diseases such as feline AIDS
and parvo are prevalent in pets in this area.
Microchip your pet. This allows shelters to return
lost pets to their proper homes.
Santos Rd.
Cypress Rosehill Rd.
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary
18430 KZ Road, Cypress
281-807-7387
www.noahs-ark-sanctuary.org
Grant Rd.
KZ Rd. N
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 13
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