Inspiring Women featuring Sarah Vella Haber
Meet Sarah Vella Haber
- Mother of two
- Biology teacher
- Head of Sciences Department
- Animal lover and bottle-feeder
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Introduction
It is my pleasure to introduce Sarah Vella Haber, a Biology teacher and the Head of Sciences Department at San Andrea School in Malta. Sarah is a woman of many talents and passions, including animal welfare, voluntary work, and traveling. Throughout her career path, she has gained experience in various sectors, from education to broadcasting, supply chain, world travel retail, and European export. Besides her professional life, Sarah dedicates her free time to rescuing and caring for abandoned cats and newborn kittens, as well as promoting their adoption through a Facebook group she administers. During the pandemic, she discovered her love for amigurumi, which she now shares with others through her Facebook page. With her full life, Sarah hopes to leave a positive impact on the world. It is an honor to interview such an inspiring woman.
The interview
Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Sarah Vella Haber. I am a mother of two young kids, Biology teacher and Head of Sciences Department at San Andrea School, an animal lover and bottle-feeder. I grew up in Gozo, moved to Malta for University, worked in Switzerland for 10 years and returned back to Malta a few years ago. In my career path, I worked in various sectors from education to broadcasting as a tv documentary presenter, supply chain, world travel retail and European export among others. I have always sought to do some sort of voluntary work alongside my job. At the moment my “free-time” revolves around rescuing and caring for abandoned cats and newborn kittens. I am an admin to a Facebook page called “Dogs and Cats for Adoption in Malta and Gozo” with almost 41k members which focus on finding good, forever homes for abandoned or homeless cats and dogs. During Covid, I started to learn the art of amigurumi and today I love passing on this beautiful hobby to others. I have a Facebook page called “The Silver Hook – Amigurumi Malta”. Another hobby very close to my heart is travelling. I like to feel that I am living my life to the full…perhaps it is a little too full 😀 and hope that with my little I leave a positive impact on the world.
What inspired you to create the Facebook group for the adoption of cats and dogs?
About 8 years ago an ex-student of mine contacted me and asked me to be admin to a pet adoption page he had just set up and didn’t have time to administer. At the time the page had about 1000 members. All those who know me know that animals have always been very important to me. I took up the opportunity instantly. I was still living abroad and it helped me keep a living link with my country and trying to contribute positively to the quality of life of animals here in Malta.
What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in fostering cats or dogs, but is unsure where to start?
During kitten season especially we desperately need fosterers for kittens and pregnant stray mummy cats. All that is needed is a safe, quiet room where the cat can peacefully give birth and care for her kittens until they are 8 weeks old and we can find them a good home. We also need fosterers for adult cats, sometimes for a few days or a week or a few months depending on the case. Fosterers for dogs are also very much needed. Our sanctuaries are full to the brim and sometimes the only way how a cat or a dog can be helped is by finding a fosterer. Some animals get very stressed in a sanctuary, especially when they arrived from a home environment, maybe their owner passed away and no family member can take over their care. Fosterers are crucial because they can give valuable information about the personality of the animals and prepare them for their forever homes. All that is needed is a lot of love, a safe, quiet room or to allow the animal to live with the family until it is homed. It really depends on the case.
What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in adopting cats or dogs for the first time? And what are the things they need to consider before adopting?
The first and most important thing to keep in mind is that we are talking about a living creature. It is a long-term commitment and the animal would be part of the family, nothing less. A new pet needs time and patience to fully adjust to his new owners’ lifestyle and home. Thinking that a cat or a dog will adapt to one’s family after a day or two is very unrealistic and ends in a sad ending for the animal. One needs to be sure that they have enough time to walk and exercise a dog every day, rain or shine, to provide the pet with good food because low-quality food is usually reflected in health issues later on, to be ready for some accidents or naughty behaviour during the adjustment phase, be in a position and committed enough to take them to the vet when needed and give them the affection they need. Otherwise, it is far better not to adopt in the first place. Nowadays awareness is much better than it was before and we try our very best to find a good match between a particular cat/dog and the new owner. After all, their life depends on our decision and making a wrong one can have devastating effects. Having said all this the satisfaction and love one gets from caring for a rescued animal is indescribable. Animals love unconditionally and purely.
Some of the kittens that Sarah has fostered
Are there any particularly memorable success stories from your Facebook group that you’d like to share?
How much time do you have? Because I could go on for hours on this one! 😀 My most memorable success stories usually revolve around newborn kittens. Last summer someone brought me a heavily pregnant stray cat and 10 minutes after I took her in she gave birth. It’s like as if she knew she was safe with us. I still have her and one of her babies. They are what I believe is called a foster fail 😀
Some kittens arrive just a few hours after birth. A kitten needs constant care for the first weeks of its’ life, kept warm 24 hours a day and bottle-feeding every 2 hours day and night. Being able to point out when something is wrong is very important. With kittens, responding an hour too late can be fatal. I have successfully helped many litters of newborn kittens. I would like to emphasise here that kittens’ best chance at survival is leaving them with their mother and they should never be removed unless absolutely necessary. Mother cats obviously have to leave their kittens alone for a few hours to go fetch for food and many think that the kittens have been abandoned. The intention is good but taking them away from their mother could be a death sentence for them.
Last year I also bottle-fed a newborn kitten whom we called Peanut. He is also a foster fail (yeah I know what you’re thinking… but he wanted to stay with us and I couldn’t say no). Peanut was weak from the start and is currently battling a very serious condition. Had he not been brought to me I am sure that he would not have made it. He is almost a celebrity by now and loved by many hundreds of students.
Peanut
Have you noticed any trends or changes in the adoption process for cats and dogs over the years? How have these affected your work?
Nowadays we take adoptions more seriously. People who show interest in adopting a cat or dog are interviewed, mainly to make sure that they can provide a safe home, that they are committed enough and that what they believe they want in a pet is actually what they are able to cater for. Many ask for kittens because they are cute and playful. Kittens grow fast though and their true personality is only known once they are older. For many families adopting a kitten is not the wisest decision.
When we home kittens we home them already microchipped, healthy and vet checked. Older cats are usually neutered too.
Obviously you will always find people who give cats and dogs to whoever asks for one as long as they get rid of them… but this is totally counter-productive on all fronts and very irresponsible.
Could you tell me about a particularly rewarding experience you’ve had fostering kittens?
The first that comes to mind is Peanut. He arrived to me at 2 days old. He had cried so much for his mother that his voice was hoarse. The poor thing cried for days! Today he is 7 months old and he attends school regularly with me. Students adore him; he has such a calming effect on everyone. You cannot help but smile when you meet him. During break-time the laboratory where I give lessons is full of students and they are not there to visit me 😀 Peanut has brought a lot of people together to try and get him back to health. He is very loved.
Click the button below if you wish to donate in support of Peanut's recovery. Thank you.
Have you seen any changes in the attitudes or behaviours of your students as a result of having peanut in the classroom?
They are very used to him being there now. He is a calm cat and sleeps throughout the lessons; I feel that they are happy even just with his presence. Many students bring him little gifts. One of the girls got him a hand-made octopus to pay with, it was a very cute gesture, and many others bring him treats, blankets and toys. He is spoilt rotten! Given the opportunity he won’t say no to cuddles and that is what some students need. He sort of has a therapeutic effect.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced while fostering kittens, and how have you overcome them?
Kittens are a lot of work! Apart from the two hourly feeds day and night which one has to be mentally prepared for you have to be on the lookout for warning signs if something is wrong, as this is not uncommon with kittens. When a kitten is sick there is no time to waste because they can fade away within an hour or two…literally! Seeing them unwell and being helpless about it is very sad. No matter how many kittens you save… that one that you do not manage to keep alive is very disheartening. You tend to keep questioning yourself….what if this? And what if that? Sometimes, unfortunately, there is nothing to do.
There are only a few experienced bottlefeeders and we all learnt by doing. No training has ever been offered… we do our own research online but the skills, knowledge and experience we have today has cost the life of various kittens along the way. This is why it is very important that kittens under the age of 5 weeks are only entrusted with experienced bottle-feeders.
What are some common health issues that you see in the kittens you foster, and how do you address them?
The most common things we encounter are cat flu and giardia. We do see some ringworm too sometimes. When a kitten drinks less than he normally does, refuses a feed, has diarrhea, becomes lethargic or does not gain weight 2 days in a row it is a clear sign that something is very wrong and should be taken to the vet immediately.
How do you decide which animals to foster, and what criteria do you use when looking for potential adopters?
I mainly foster kittens that need bottle-feeding but I do take in pregnant mummies or adults needing recovery sometimes. At the moment I cannot foster dogs unfortunately… everyone does what they can and together we can make a difference. I am quite choosy about homing my babies. You tend to become very attached to them and I want to make sure they will be loved and properly cared for. Many of my colleagues have adopted a kitten or two from me…. or even five! I tend to keep contact with the families who adopt through me and love receiving photos from them.
How do you involve your children in your work with animal rescue, and what have they learned from the experience?
My daughter is a huge animal-lover too. I take her with me when I go to trap a cat or when I go to the vet. She is still very young and I do not allow her to bottle-feed because many things could go wrong, but I encourage her to help me by preparing their food, passing me things during bottle-feeding, cuddling them and keeping them warm or simply just singing to them. My son prefers not to get that involved but it’s ok too. These are not things that one can force onto kids.
Do you have any pets of your own, and if so, how do they get along with the animals you foster?
I have 5 cats and about 8 tortoises. The cats are all foster fails… each one of them has it’s own character and not all get along perfectly well…especially the females. One has to remember that some cats have been through a lot before they come to us. Some have had to fight for food or territory… the effects of certain experiences take a long time to grow out of and some cats never do! But well, as long as they don’t harm each other I can live with some hissing, spitting or the occasional screaming cat.
My oldest male is obsessed about kittens and thinks they are all his. I always have to be very careful when I have little kittens at home because he just carries them away and I find him cuddled with them on the bed or in some drawer or box.
Generally, any kittens that arrive are kept in isolation at least 7-10 days. You never know whether they are healthy or not and I have to be very careful to keep my cats safe. Disease spreads quickly among cats and some cats are not cooperative when it comes to treatment.
The female cats don’t want to have anything to do with the kittens I foster… I guess they have done their fair share of mothering and couldn’t be bothered anymore.
What motivates you to continue your work with animal rescue, even in the face of challenges or setbacks?
I am a person who takes joy from helping others…be it animal or human. I know that what we do with these innocent creatures has a direct positive effect on their life and I find it very rewarding. Sometimes it is just a dog’s lick, a cat’s slow eye wink, a feral cat who one day allows you to pet him…or even just the peaceful energy they convey.
How do you think individuals can make a difference in promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership?
Education is the key! There is no better tool. The younger generations are the future of animals in our country and around the world. In my opinion animal awareness and welfare should be part of schooling and all students should spend a certain amount of time volunteering with animals in one way or another. It has been proven that animals have a positive impact when it comes to emotional support too.
How long have you been a biology teacher and what do you enjoy most about it?
I started off as a Biology teacher but 10 years down the line moved on to business. I like to challenge myself and my choices and to be sure that what I am doing is what I really choose to do and not out of lack of options. I moved abroad, started working in international schools in Switzerland and at the same time completed an MBA. I then joined a big multinational FMCG company and worked my way up to working in global country fulfilment and world travel detail. After that I chose to return to teaching. Working with young people is where I find myself in my best element. I enjoy their positivity, energy for life and the great relationships fostered and I love teaching in general.
How do you balance your roles as a mother, teacher, and cat/dog foster parent?
It’s a matter of juggling everything in its’ own time. Good time management is very important. They are things which go very well together… all 3 roles involve caring. When I take my kids to sports or dancing after-school clubs I often have kittens on one car seat and corrections on the other. I am not saying that I don’t lose it sometimes… when things get out of control, kittens or kids get sick, corrections pile up and housework accumulates I can feel overwhelmed too. I still have to develop superpowers 😀
How did you get into Amigurumi, and what are some of your favourite pieces you’ve made?
I am self-taught when it comes to amigurumi. I started learning during covid and I have to say that it helped keep me sane during the pandemic. I always thought that such a hobby needs a lot of patience and that I was not suitable for me. While doing amigurumi, counting the stitches and rows, and seeing your project come to life you easily forget about all the things that are still on the to-do list and minutes turn to hours in the blink of an eye. It is amazing what some yarn and a hook can do. I mostly work on my amigurumi during the night or while waiting in the car. It’s a hobby that can be done from anywhere. I do not put pressure on myself… when I get tired I stop. It has to be fun after all. My most favourite pieces are Poppy, an afro-american doll with beautiful curly hair, a frog which was a big learning curve when it comes to techniques, an octopus and a llama. Some of the amigurumis I make I do not manage to part with. It’s hard to explain why I connect to some more than others.
Some of the amigurumi I do are given to charity or used in fundraisers. Others are commissioned. Some I just do for myself or my kids or friends. I always prefer to work on new projects and have recently started creating my own patterns.
Are there any upcoming Amigurumi workshops or events that you’re excited about, or any new projects you’re working on?
In summer I organize Amigurumi workshops mainly for beginners. It is becoming a popular hobby and very gratifying to see the excitement in someone’s eye when they create their first amigurumi. Information can be found on my facebook page “The Silver Hook – Amigurumi Malta”.
Dear-Sarah,
Dear-Donna would like to thank you for being our first guest, and for taking us along your journey. We look forward to collaborating with you on various projects in the future. We wish you the very best and you have our full support.
Kind regards,
Dear-Donna and friends
