THE LEGEND OF ST. HUBERT'S

According to legend, St. Hubert was hunting deep in the forest on Good Friday when a stag appeared before him. His aim faltered as a crucifix glowed over the animal's head and a voice reproached him for hunting--particularly on Good Friday. Inspired by his vision, St. Hubert vowed to put down his bow and arrow forever. He renounced his riches and military honors and joined the church, becoming Bishop of Liege. When hydrophobia raged in France and Belgium, St. Hubert set up a refuge for all the dogs he could find, marking each with the sign of the cross on its forehead, which was believed to render immunity to rabies. Following his death in 727, the monks in Ardennes renamed the Flemish Hound, which St. Hubert had brought from the South of Gaul, the Saint Hubert Hound.

Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, a world renowned breeder, exhibitor and judge, had a special place in her heart for all animals. She was aware that, unlike her own well maintained purebreds, many lost or abandoned animals had no place to call home. Her dream was to establish for them a haven from suffering and neglect and to make them available for adoption to responsible individuals.

Toward that goal Mrs. Dodge incorporated St. Hubert's Giralda in 1939. She spent years familiarizing herself with the animal welfare movement in this country and the animal protection groups already in existence. She meticulously formulated a charter and operations plan for this new nonprofit organization which would, many years later, come to be known as the model animal welfare facility in the region.

Working with the New Jersey State Board of Health, Mrs. Dodge was instrumental in the development of a licensing program designed to ensure that all dogs residing in the state would be vaccinated against rabies. She was also dedicated to the development of legislation that would protect animals from cruelty at the hands of uncaring humans.

Her dreams became a reality in 1958 when the first destitute canine found shelter in the kennel. St. Hubert's original staff of four occupied a small storefront office in the center of Madison. The animals picked up in the four municipalities with whom Mrs. Dodge had arranged to supply animals control service were housed at the Connon Kennels in Green Village, New Jersey..

In 1962 renovations were complete and St. Hubert's moved to its present location on Woodland Avenue, at that time a section of the Dodge estate known as Giralda Farms. Edwin J. Sayres, Sr., Mrs. Dodge's personal kennel director, was appointed President and directed the operation. It was not uncommon for the kindly woman whose dogs were international champions to stop in at the shelter and return to her mansion with a bedraggled old stray whose future looked bleak when the kennel was crowded. Many such dogs found a permanent home with Mrs. Dodge.

Since then many changes have taken place at the shelter. St. Hubert's began providing animal control services for many of the surrounding municipalities. The human population of the area increased greatly and so, in turn, did the number of dogs and cats. Gone were the days when the family dog could romp through unpopulated fields and forests.

The tremendous increase in the number of homeless pets at the shelter made it apparent that the organization's housing of these animals represented an immediate solution to their plight but did not have any long-term effect--there were always more. A concentrated effort was made to develop an education program designed to help people realize that animal overpopulation was indeed a serious problem.

Enforcement of local leash laws became a priority and the animal control officer had not only to apprehend the animals but also impress upon their owners that they must be mindful of their responsibilities to both their animals and their neighbors. A program aimed at helping children develop a responsible and humane attitude toward animals was instituted and offered to elementary school children and scout troops.

Much attention was given to the promotion of the humane education program during the late 1970's. A full time education staff developed lessons on all aspects of animal behavior, responsible pet care and the value of animals in society for presentation to children in grades K-12. The merits of these curriculum-integrated classes were vigorously promoted to area school personnel. St. Hubert's continues to emphasize humane education and it's staff addresses thousands of students each year as well as conducts workshops in humane education for teachers and shelter personnel.

In response to research indicating that interaction with animals is beneficial to the isolated and elderly, St. Hubert's developed a pet assisted therapy program. Working with The Delta Society, St. Hubert's conducts workshops and pet evaluations to certify pet partner teams that visit hospitals, retirement homes and long term care facilities throughout the year.

In 1981 St. Hubert's became the first shelter in New Jersey to meet the stringent standards for accreditation by the Humane Society of the United States. The accreditation, which continues today, signifies the organization's excellence in all areas of animal welfare--community animal control, kennel management, animal care, and humane education.

Recognizing the importance of early canine training and socializing, St. Hubert's began organizing obedience classes. What once began as a small venture in the parking lot has now turned into one of the most prominent dog training schools in America. With it's own facility in downtown Madison, NJ St. Hubert's Dog Training School graduates over 3000 dogs each year, and offers a wide array of classes including obedience, competition training, agility and conformation handling.

In 1993 St. Hubert's merged with the Somerset Humane Society adding a second sheltering facility in North Branch, NJ. Animal Control Services also increased to handle a record 27 municipalities in four counties. Currently employing a staff of 45, St. Hubert's handles nearly 5,000 animals a year, and is considered to be a leader among animal welfare organizations in the United States.

The shelter's progressive adoption program is designed to protect both the animals--by making certain that they are placed in responsible, permanent homes--and the public--by making certain that animals offered for adoption are medically and behaviorally suitable as family pets. Staff members share its proven policies and procedures at animal welfare workshops and seminars in order to improve the quality of service at both municipal and privately operated shelters throughout the Garden State.

When Mrs. Dodge died in 1973 she left to St. Hubert's her vast collection of animal art and a bequest of $2.4 million which provides enough income to cover its overhead expenses. With an annual budget of approximately $2.5 million, St. Hubert's relies on the generosity of it's donors to fund its animal welfare programs.

 

Charting the Growth

1939	—	Geraldine R. Dodge incorporates St. Hubert's
1958	—	St. hubert's opens in a downtown Madison storefront shop offering animal control services to 4 neighboring towns.
1962	—	St. Hubert's opens at current Woodland Avenue location in a converted cow barn.
1981	—	St. Hubert's adds a 2,400 square foot auditorium to the existing shelter facility for educational programs and lectures.
1987	—	State of the art cattery with the capacity to hold 50 felines is created from a renovated 3 bay garage of existing shelter.
1992	—	Animal exam and treatment room added to shelter.
1993	—	A 7,500 square-foot state-of-the-art Dog Training School opens in downtown Madison.
1994	—	St. Hubert's merges with the Somerset Humane Society adding a second sheltering facility in North Branch.

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