Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary in Green Bay is opening its doors, during January cold snap, for people who have no place to sleep at night. Jan. 23, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Green Bay animal shelter is facing ordinance violations.
It comes after January’s arctic cold snap, when the shelter offered a place for homeless people to sleep.
The Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary has received ordinance violations from the city of Green Bay.
The sanctuary is under scrutiny for operating as an unauthorized emergency homeless shelter.
The ordinance violation notice was issued by Green Bay’s Community and Economic Development Department Friday.
In the letter, it said the business allowed unhoused people to stay overnight at the pet sanctuary.
This goes against the zoning code in Green Bay’s “Principal Uses for the Special Purpose District.”
Part of this is in reference to a cold snap in late January, when Safe Haven opened its doors for people with nowhere else to go during arctic temperatures.
“It’s wicked cold out there. There are always going to be people who fall through the cracks, and that’s where we step in,” Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary’s Joe Becker said in January.
The violation letter also said it received reports of alcohol consumption and smoking inside Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary.
Safe Haven executive director Elizabeth Feldhausen posted about the violation on Facebook.
She calls allegations people were drinking and smoking inside “untrue” after reviewing surveillance video.
The post also said:
All of the unhoused there are official volunteers, paperwork and all. They have been learning and taking responsibility for tasks around the sanctuary. A few are training to become employed when the need arises.
After the citation notice, the Department of Community and Economic Development posted on Facebook “to provide additional context and clarification following recent media coverage regarding a notice of ordinance violation issued to Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary.”
Part of their post says the city received formal complaints about activities at the sanctuary that raised “potential life-safety and public health concerns.”
“It is important to emphasize that the City’s actions are not intended to discourage compassion or community-based efforts to assist people in crisis. The City values and appreciates organizations and individuals who step forward to help those experiencing homelessness, especially during severe weather,” the post reads. “The City also employs staff who work every day to find housing and improve the lives of our residents who experience homelessness.”
Feldhausen says she plans to meet with Mayor Eric Genrich about the matter.
In the violation, the city said Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary must correct the issue immediately.
Safe Haven says it is already back in compliance.
It’s not clear whether or not Safe Haven is being charged a penalty for these violations.
Future violations would account for a $75 re-inspection fee.
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