TALK OF THE TRAILS
MARCH 2014 EDITION
ANIMALS WANT TO BE LOVED TOO
By Briana Dincher
Do you love animals and want to help them? Now is your chance to do something for homeless animals!
There are millions of animals out there who are need of a good home and a loving family. Statistics show
that there are about 12 million animals that enter shelters per year. This is usually resulted by pets being
thrown out of their homes or irresponsible ownership. Animal shelters are not able to keep so many
animals and at times these animals are put to sleep. You can adopt dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, and other
animals that are need. If you want to help, you can volunteer, donate money or pet supplies, visit an
animal organization, or adopt an animal. I conducted interviews with two volunteer organizations that
help animals in need. You can see the interviews below and become familiar with what each organization
does for animals.
John Muir once said: “Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so
much the larger and better in every way.” Animals provide us with strength and are great companions
who are always there for us no matter what. They will comfort us at the worst of times and will be by our
side at the best of times. No matter how you help an animal, know that a good deed is being done and
these animals appreciate all that you are doing for them. Doing anything, even if you are simply visiting
an animal shelter and buying some food for these poor animals, is considered a big deed done!
TIP: Don’t buy a pet from a breeder, but adopt an animal from a pet shelter.
Sources:
Quote: http://www.buzzfeed.com/paws/inspiring-pictures-for-people-who-love-animals
Picture:http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/2054/a088b52bbb7c4f1c87c452d4e7bab50b.jpg
Statistics: http://www.petfinder.com/pro/for-shelters/facts-about-animal-sheltering
INTERVIEW: ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER (NEW JERSEY)
1) What does your organization do for animals in need?
2) Do you help animals in just New Jersey or other states as well?
We are a 501c3 non-profit animal shelter. We care and rehome cats and dogs that have been
surrendered to us from members of the community. We also rescue animals from local NJ county
shelters (CCAS and BCAS), ACCT (animal control in PA), and high kill shelters down south (Georgia,
Virginia, North/South Carolina).
Local NJ county shelters are contracted with the state to take in all surrenders within their county, so
due to their limited resources/space to properly care for all these animals, they are forced to euthanize
some of them. The high-kill shelters down south give animals roughly a 5 day waiting period before they
are euthanized due to the large volume of surrenders and lack of resources to care for them. As one of
South Jersey’s only no-kill shelters, we are in a unique position to rescue these animals before they are
euthanized and give them a place to wait for their forever home no matter how long it takes.
Being a strict no-kill shelter means we will not euthanize any animal regardless of space, age, illness or
temperament. The only time we would have an animal in our care euthanized is if it was recommended
by a veterinarian as being absolutely medically necessary because the cat or dog was suffering with an
illness or injury without a chance of recovery.
3) What does a person interested in adopting an animal need to do?
A person who is interested in adopting from us would have to first come to our facility to meet the cat or
dog. Anyone else who will share the home with the animal would have to come meet them as well before
the adoption is approved. In the case of our dogs, if the potential adopter has another dog, we would
have to do a dog/dog meet to ensure they get along before the adoption is approved. If all the meets go
well, the potential adopter would fill out an application to be reviewed by our kennel or cat staff for
approval. We take up to 4 applications on an animal and choose the one deemed to be the best fit for the
cat or dog in question. We do not have a first come first serve policy.
Once the application is approved they would just have to pay the adoption fee after which they are free to
take their new pet to their forever home!
4) What are some ways people can help?
Being a no-kill shelter, we are not contracted to take in strays and therefore do not receive any funds
from the State or Government. We subsist primarily on monetary and non-monetary donations from
our friends in the community. Our donation fees cover the microchip, spay/neuter and up-to-date shots
of every animal we adopt. As a no kill shelter we are also obligated to do everything we can to care of our
sick animals so often we either break even on the adoption fees or lose money due to large veterinary
bills.
People can do the most good by donating either monetarily to our shelter or by donating non-monetary
goods as listed on our website or amazon wish list (links below):
Monetary:
http://www.animaladoption.com/monetary-donations.php
Non-Monetary:
http://www.animaladoption.com/donate-items.php
Amazon Wish List:
http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/GZZLQY58V2ET/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_ws_9RSKsb19SQ6PA
We can always use help as well in the form of volunteers to assist in caring for our animals. While you
would have to be 18 or over to volunteer without the company of an adult, we do welcome any animal
lover that wants to improve the lives of our four-legged friends in need. We advise anyone interested to
please e-mail us at info@animaladoption.com or call us at 856-435-9116.
5) Does your organization care for animals other than dogs and cats?
At this time, our organization only cares for cats and dogs.
Interview taken from:
Kevin M. Bricketto
Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator
Animal Adoption Center
P.O. Box 4017
501 N. Berlin Road
Lindenwold, NJ 08021
(856)435-9116
Interview conducted by:
Briana Dincher
INTERVIEW: ANIMAL CARE & CONTOL (NYC)
1) What does your organization do for animals in need?
Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country,
taking in approximately 30,000 animals each year. We are a nonprofit organization that rescues, cares
for, and finds homes for animals in need throughout the five boroughs. People bring pets to us when they
can no longer care for them, and our Field officers rescue stray dogs and injured or ill animals. We are an
open-admissions organization, which means we never turn away any homeless, abandoned, injured or
sick animal in need of help. We adopt dogs, cats, and rabbits into new homes, and also place these and
other kinds of animals with other shelters and rescue groups known as New Hope partners (through
which the animals can be adopted). We also help reunite lost pets with their families.
2) Do you help animals in just New York City or other cities/states as well?
We help animals throughout the five boroughs of NYC. People from other cities and states can adopt
from AC&C.
3) What does a person interested in adopting an animal need to do?
Dogs and cats of all types and ages are available for adoption, and we encourage people to adopt from
their local shelter or rescue group. People interested in adopting from AC&C can come to one of our
three Care Centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Staten Island to meet available animals. Our Adoption
Counselors help match people and pets every day of the week, from 12-7pm. Potential adopters can also
view animals online at http://nycacc.org/AdoptionSearch.htm. To adopt an animal from AC&C, you
must have valid photo ID, be 18 years of age or older and bring proof of current address. For more details
on the adoption process, please see http://nycacc.org/Adopt.htm.
4) What are some ways people can help?
Everyone can help animals in need! We hope people will get involved by adopting, volunteering,
donating, and encouraging others to do the same. We need help to spread the word about the importance
of adopting, and about responsible pet ownership (for example, the importance of spaying and neutering
pets, and making sure your pet has proper ID in case he or she gets lost).
People who aren’t ready to adopt (it’s a long-term commitment!) might consider helping shelter animals
by joining our foster team. Foster volunteers temporarily care for animals in their homes. And animal
lovers 18 years and older can volunteer at our shelters to walk dogs, socialize cats, and more. We can
always use donations for our animals, both financial and in-kind. Donations of old blankets and towels,
for example, are always appreciated. Kids can help by hosting a drive for these and other items on our
Wish List (http://nycacc.org/WishList.htm), and also by making toys to help comfort animals while
they’re in the shelter.
5) Does your organization care for animals other than dogs and cats?
We take in any animal in need, including cats, dogs, rabbits, small mammals, reptiles, birds, farm
animals and wildlife. We partner with several other animal welfare organizations, including wildlife
rehabilitators and animal sanctuaries, to place the more unique species that come our way.
Interview taken from: Alexandra Silver - Communications Associate with Animal Care & Control of
NYC (AC&C)
Interview conducted by: Briana Dincher