St. Hubert's Welcomes 25 Neglected Poodles

UPDATE July 7

Our amazing friend Dr. Elia of The Animal Hospital of Roxbury and her vet tech Josie reorganized their schedules to come and assist our clinic team with examinations. Rock Stars! 

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Shampooches Pet Spa Mobile Grooming's Wallace and Erica rolled in first thing in the morning to provide grooming and
“sham-poodle-ing.”

The transition to the new lives they deserve is well underway for our sweet little poodles!  Yesterday all of them were vaccinated and received preliminary exams, difficult at best due to the extreme matting, on intake. 

All day Friday has been devoted to the arduous task of removing the years of neglect that resulted in coats deeply matted and soaked to the skin with feces and urine.   One of the professional groomers assisting us said “I’ve NEVER seen anything like this—and I’ve seen a lot.  It had to take YEARS for the condition to reach the point it has on some of these dogs.”  Once they’re shaved down and bathed it’s easy to see how much better they feel, able to walk and extend their legs without the discomfort caused by the weight of the mats pulling against their skin. It’s been a long time too since most of them actually felt dry. More complete exams reveal that the majority of the dogs are middle aged and have severe tartar buildup that will necessitate dental scaling and polishing, some with extractions.  Several will require treatment for ear infections and urine burns on their skin.    

VP of Direct Animal Care and Life-Saving Partnerships Becky Burton took time to give each one a hug and complement the great new look. 

Through it all this resilient  group has  remained patient and cooperative.  They really enjoy the handling, special attention and companionship of the people helping them.  We hope that they will begin to become available for meet and greet visits with potential adopters early next week and be able to head out to loving homes  as soon as they’ve been spayed/neutered. 
 
We’re so grateful to those who are donating to help us ensure that every little poodle will get everything he or she needs to be ready to enjoy a happy, healthy life.  Our clinic and animal care teams are working tirelessly and we owe very special thanks to the compassionate and skilled professionals who took time out from their busy schedules to come in and donate their services to this special group.

Some got their makeovers courtesy of groomer Renee Haak!

Looking Good!!

Watch the ABC 7 News Coverage Here!

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St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center has just welcomed 25 Poodles of various ages from dire straits in Hudson County and urgently needs donations to assist with their care and treatment. The dogs were discovered during an unrelated municipal inspection. The house where they were living was subsequently condemned. They were removed by Animal Control Officers from New Jersey Humane Society in West New York and transported to Summit Animal Clinic in Union City Wednesday night. Several of them were so severely matted that their coats were immediately shaved down to alleviate their discomfort. 

After having obtained surrender of the dogs to NJHS, ACOs Geoff Santini and Fernando Rosario reached out to St. Hubert’s to request assistance in providing care and eventual adoption for the group. Within the hour staff had prepared the Center’s 26-foot transport vehicle, The Zephyr, and were enroute to pick up the entire group and bring them to the Madison shelter, where onsite staff were preparing for their arrival.

“The willingness of organizations to work together is key to being able to manage cases of this size, and St. Hubert’s agreed to accept all of the dogs unconditionally,” said Heather Cammisa, CEO and President of St. Hubert’s. “Once they’ve all been thoroughly examined by our veterinarian and clinic staff, we will set to work making sure each one gets whatever special treatment is needed.” 

This case comes on the heels of a similar case in Cumberland County a week ago. The Cumberland County SPCA removed 25 dogs from substandard care and housing and St. Hubert’s, which has a longstanding Sister Shelter partnership with CCSPCA, still has 13 of the canine victims of that situation in its care and custody as well.
  

“As these cases unfolded right on top of each other our greatest need right now is monetary donations to support them as we treat and prepare them for placement,” said Cammisa. “Our staff will willingly step up and go the extra mile for this large group of newcomers no matter what they need, and we ask for the community’s generosity to help us with the associated costs.”  

Special donations to support the care and treatment for the animals can be made on-line by scrolling to the bottom of this news article, via telephone at 973-377-7094, by mail at P.O. Box 159, Madison, NJ 07940 or in person at any of St. Hubert’s shelters. The organization’s Matching Gift Challenge is in effect until July 31—all contributions will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $85,000. 

ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center Announces Permanent Relocation; Celebrates Final Group of Canine “Graduates” at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Madison, N.J.—As the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) approaches the four-year anniversary of its Behavioral Rehabilitation Center pilot program, staff members prepare seven dogs – the last group of canine “graduates” – who have successfully completed the rehabilitation program for adoption with rescue groups and shelters in New Jersey and New York. Based at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J., the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center is the first-ever facility dedicated strictly to providing behavioral rehabilitation to canine victims of cruelty and neglect—including those rescued from puppy mills, hoarding situations and dog fighting rings—who suffer from severe fear and anxiety that prevented their adoption. The ASPCA will be relocating and expanding its behavior rehabilitation program to a permanent facility in Weaverville, N.C.—scheduled to open later this year—where it will provide research-based training for shelters around the country and a greater capacity and more resources to help traumatized dogs.

The ASPCA launched the Center as a pilot program in March 2013 and has since helped hundreds of homeless dogs suffering from debilitating behavior issues. Sheltering professionals from 20 states were also invited to visit the facility to observe behavior rehabilitation techniques and apply key learnings to help homeless dogs in their own communities.

“Through this unique program, the ASPCA has gained a tremendous amount of insight into behavioral rehabilitation, and provided second chances for dogs who might otherwise be euthanized for behavior issues,” said ASPCA president and CEO Matt Bershadker. “We thank St. Hubert’s for being an invaluable partner in making our pilot program possible, and finding safe and loving homes for at-risk dogs who graduated our rehabilitation program. We’re thrilled to build a permanent facility where we can put countless more fearful, at-risk dogs on the path to recovery and adoptability.”

"It has been our privilege to work with the ASPCA and these deserving animals over the past four years," said Heather Cammisa, president and CEO of St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center. “We know firsthand the hard work and heart that went into the successful development of new tools and methods to help animals and shelter and rescue colleagues far and wide. It has been a beautiful, productive relationship and we will miss our ASPCA family in the building while continuing to work together in other capacities to help animals and communities. On behalf of St. Hubert’s, we thank the ASPCA for paving the way for canine behavior rehabilitation and providing exceptional educational resources to the field."

At the Center, a dedicated team of animal behavior experts and support staff work daily with these dogs by implementing scientifically sound techniques to reduce their fear of people, as well as to gradually acclimate them to unfamiliar objects, sounds, living areas, and real-life situations that can induce trauma and severe stress. ASPCA behavior experts have been conducting a research study that they intend to share with shelters and rescue groups around the country so that these groups will be better equipped to rehabilitate homeless dogs from similar backgrounds and save more lives. The program is showcased in an award-winning ASPCA documentary, “Second Chance Dogs,” which is currently available on Netflix.

“The progress we’ve made since the opening of the center nearly four years ago is remarkable,” said Kristen Collins, senior director of ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Rehabilitation. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and look forward to continuing and advancing the work at our new permanent facility, which will have greater capacity to train visiting professionals as well as rehabilitate animals.”

Rescue groups and shelters, including the ASPCA Adoption Center, who assisted in finding homes for dogs that completed the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center program include: Alaskan Malamute Rescue of Delaware; Animal Alliance; Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire; Big East Akita Rescue; Bucks County SPCA; Chautauqua Humane Society; Chow Rescue Ontario; SPCA Serving Erie County; Eskies Online; Hartman's Haven Rescue; Humane Rescue Alliance; Humane Society of Calvert County; Humane Society of Port Jervis; Mohawk Hudson Humane Society; Monmouth County SPCA; Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter; Rescuzilla; Sammy's Hope; Sean Casey Animal Rescue; Second Chance Pet Adoption League; Shiba Rescue GTA; and St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center.

For more information on the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center and stories of individual dogs who have successfully graduated the program, please visit www.aspca.org/BehavioralRehab

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

About St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center

Founded in 1939, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. Its services to the community include pet adoption and animal rescue, humane education, a pet helpline, pet training, professional education, animal-assisted therapy, and pet loss support. St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center has shelters in Madison, North Branch, and Ledgewood, NJ, The Behavior Center in Madison, and a PetSmart Charities Everyday Adoption Center at the PetSmart in Mt. Olive. For more information about St. Hubert’s, visit www.sthuberts.org or contact the Madison shelter at (973) 377-2295, the North Branch shelter at (908) 526-3330, the Ledgewood shelter at (973) 347-5469, or the Everyday Adoption Center at (973) 448-7601, ext. 7.

St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center WayStation Program Featured in Animal Sheltering Magazine

(TRANSPORTING)
ACROSS THE DIVIDE

Karina King, director of operations at the Dakin Humane Society in Massachusetts, has what you might call “a good problem.” In late October 2016, between the nonprofit’s two locations in Springfield and Leverett, she has only one dog available for adoption. Usually that number is closer to 10, she says, but even so—her shelter is one of the largest animal welfare agencies in New England. “I could adopt out probably four times as many dogs and puppies as we do,” says King. The “problem” is that New Englanders are both eager to adopt homeless animals and great at spaying and neutering their pets. Dakin runs a Humane Alliance spay/neuter clinic that has altered roughly 70,000 animals over the past seven years. “We have people who are looking to do the right thing and adopt, and we want to support them in that, not drive them to backyard breeders or pet shops,” says King, noting that there are still pet stores in the state that sell puppies from breeding mills. But the shelter often has to turn families away because of a lack of available dogs who meet their criteria. Yet King receives daily emails and voicemails from shelters across the country “where they are desperate, desperate for help,” she says. “We can help them. We can save those animals’ lives by doing a transport.” Cary Smith of The HSUS helps offload dogs rescued from an Arkansas puppy mill in 2016. The dogs were transported to Maryland and picked up by area shelters. 

State by state, animal professionals give and take the right way source and destination state, but dogs typically go from Southern to New England states, stopping at St. Hubert’s and then being distributed in a “hub-and-spoke” model. In 2016, the center’s goal was to facilitate transport of more than 3,000 dogs from all over the country and 1,200 cats from within New Jersey. "Social causes don’t end at state lines,” says Cammisa. For every dog received, St. Hubert’s reinvests a minimum of $25 in the source shelter’s low-cost spay/neuter program. For Cammisa, the transport program isn’t just about helping individual animals. It’s about sharing knowledge and tools to help address the root causes of overpopulation in individual communities, like sponsoring staff trips to The HSUS’s annual Animal Care Expo, helping with vetting costs or connecting shelters with nonprofit resources like Humane Alliance, which teaches organizations how to operate successful high-volume spay/neuter clinics. 

“This is a partnership. It is not enough to just move dogs,” she says. “If we were just taking dogs and not investing back in these folks, what are we really doing? If we’re not helping them solve overpopulation, what are we really doing?” Taming the process
In the past, however, the reciprocal solution has been ripe for slip-ups and even scams,  sometimes driving more restrictive pet import regulations in common destination states like Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Liam Hughes, director of Maine’s animal welfare program within its Department of Agriculture, explains that Hurricane Katrina in 2005—and the animals left behind—was Blurred lines. By now, you know transporting pets across county or state (or international) lines—to places where Chihuahuas are in high demand and low supply or from warm-weather states where kittens abound yearround— can be a great way to bring needy animals to expectant adopters. So long as shelters and rescues transport  responsibly— ensuring the safety and well-being of animals and following state and federal animal transport laws—moving shelter animals from one region to another can be win-win problem sharing and solving.

Currently, Dakin works with groups in Texas and New Jersey to transport animals into Massachusetts. King is careful to point out that source and destination
shelter partnerships are mutually beneficial—the “pull” of people who want to adopt and the shelters that want to support their communities’ desire to rescue pets, and the “push” of shelters with too many animals and too few adopters and resources. “I’ve had a conversation with people at other shelters in New England that don’t import, and they’re like, ‘Our responsibility is our community’s animals,’ and I completely agree with that,” she says, and she won’t schedule transports if her shelter receives an unusually large influx of local animals. It’s just that those shelters are “defining ‘my community’ as ‘my city’ or ‘my county,’ but I don’t feel that that’s how I define my community. ... These sending shelters [that] don’t have live-release options for the healthy, friendly family dogs that they have—they’re my community as well." 

Heather Cammisa, president of St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey, emphatically agrees. After working with the nowdefunct PetSmart Charities transport program Rescue Waggin’, St. Hubert’s received PetSmart Charities and Petco Foundation grants to support its own transport programs, including a Jersey-only “feline pipeline,” she says with a laugh. Since August 2016, the center has acted as a transport coordinator and way station for 23 source shelters to 27 destination shelters and counting, including Dakin. 

“This is a partnership. It is not enough to just move dogs. If we were just taking dogs and notinvesting back in these folks, what are we really doing? If we’re not helping them solve  overpopulation, what are we really doing?” —Heather Cammisa, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center

For more of the article, please visit this link

St. Hubert’s and People for Animals take in 130 Cats

Two organizations respond to overwhelmed rescue in icy weather

(February 13, 2017) Madison, NJ, A call for supplies and adoptions follows the intake of over 130 cats from an overwhelmed animal rescue in northern New Jersey on Sunday, February 12th.

People for Animals and St. Hubert’s worked together to remove the cats in icy storm conditions and bring them to St. Hubert’s Madison campus for immediate triage, vaccinations and care.

“We were asked to assist the rescue who does good work in the community but had simply gotten overrun,” said Jane Guillaume, Executive Director of People for Animals. “We could not have responded at this level without our friends at St. Hubert’s.” she added.

Guillaume had contacted St. Hubert’s on Friday morning requesting assistance.  

A team of combined staff removed the cats from the property and provided initial care at St. Hubert’s. Although some of the cats had vaccines, records were unavailable and citing health and well-being, the groups provided about a hundred cats vaccinations upon arrival at St. Hubert’s and were examined by Dr. Laurie Heeb, a veterinarian onsite from People for Animals and two veterinary technicians, Valerie Wilson and Jennifer Gomez, from People for Animals and St. Hubert’s, respectively. The remainder of the cats will receive vaccinations and veterinary exams on Monday and Tuesday.

“We appreciate People for Animals reaching out to us and the rescue group whose founder and volunteers were eager to see these cats get the care and help they needed,” said Heather Cammisa, President/CEO of St. Hubert’s. “The importance of productive relationships in animal rescue cannot be overstated, in these situations or in the daily work to advance animal welfare,” Cammisa added.

All cats are currently resting and adjusting to their new environment while being observed for health before being placed for adoption. The most common ailment noted by St. Hubert’s so far is upper respiratory infection while some cats are being tested for skin conditions. After triage, People for Animals transported 50 cats to their program. The 83 remaining cats will stay at St. Hubert’s for the foreseeable future until health conditions have been cleared.

St. Hubert’s and People for Animals are both in need of monetary donations as well as supplies to care for these cats as they await adoption. The public can immediately help by donating canned cat food, clean towels, plastic scrub brushes, wire ties, washable cat toys, and white copy paper. Both groups also seek anyone thinking of adopting a cat to visit their adoption locations so there is more adoption housing space for these cats. Volunteers have been called in by both agencies to help care for the cats while they recover or are being prepared for placement. St Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is open seven days a week for adoptions and donation drop offs. To learn more or make a donation, please contact St. Hubert’s, 973.377.7094, www.sthuberts.org, and People for Animals, 973.282.0890, www.pfaonline.org.

ABOUT ST. HUBERT'S ANIMAL WELFARE CENTER Founded in 1939, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. Its services to the community include pet adoption and animal rescue, humane education, a pet helpline, pet training, professional education, animal-assisted therapy, and pet loss support. St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center has shelters in Madison, North Branch, and Ledgewood, NJ, a dog training school in Madison, and a PetSmart Charities Everyday Adoption Center at the PetSmart in Mt. Olive. For more information about St. Hubert’s, visit www.sthuberts.org or contact the Madison shelter at (973) 377-2295, the North Branch shelter at (908) 526-3330, the Ledgewood shelter at (973) 347-5469, or the Everyday Adoption Center at (973) 448-7601, ext. 7.

ABOUT PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS Founded in 1980, People for Animals, Inc. is an independent nonprofit animal welfare organization not affiliated with any other Humane Society or any national or local animal welfare groups. They were chosen by the State of New Jersey to participate in a pilot program to reduce animal overpopulation, and in 1985, opened the first Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic of its kind in this State. People for Animals relies entirely upon private donations, grants, bequests and fund raising events to care for more than 22,000 animals the organization provides services for each year. People for Animals has three locations; Hillside NJ, Clayton NJ, and Robbinsville NJ.

Enrichment Program Provides Healing for At-Risk Youth Through Shelter Dog Training

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Chef Stefan Davenport teaching our students the ways of vegan cooking

On Friday, January 27, 2017, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center celebrated the graduation of its 4th Annual Teen Animal Welfare Enrichment Program. The program allows at-risk teens to work in pairs, using teamwork to train St. Hubert’s shelter dogs in commands and behavior modification. The program participants have all struggled through traumatic experiences resulting in substance abuse and behavioral issues. The 5-day intensive is designed to teach lessons that inspire empathy, compassion, respect, and responsibility while strengthening the human-animal bond and giving the participants a sense of accomplishment. During the graduation day, family and community members were invited to St. Hubert’s Training and Behavior Center on the Madison Campus where the students demonstrated their dog’s learned commands. Many of St. Hubert’s shelter dogs have also come from difficult pasts. St. Hubert’s provides the unique opportunity for a special bond to grow between each Daytop teen and their furry student. In addition to the daily training courses, the students also participated in group discussions with guest clinicians providing education on animal welfare issues such as factory farming, respect for wild-life, and therapy. The participants even had a cooking lesson with a vegan chef.

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“We have a wonderful Humane Education program, but really wanted to dive-in to where we thought a greater impact was needed,” said Heather Cammisa, President & CEO. We began this program in 2014 to really provide a way for at-risk youth to feel a sense of accomplishment and the power of the human-animal bond.”

Overall, St. Hubert’s Humane Education offerings, which include school, scout, and summer day camp programs, reached more than 4,000 students this past year, with many of them coming from underserved communities. They are pleased to partner with Daytop NJ, a residential and out-patient facility for adolescents struggling with substance abuse and behavioral issues, to help transform these teens into compassionate, motivated, adults.

St. Hubert's Sister Shelter Partners Words of Gratitude

Our Waystation program grew substantially in 2016, allowing St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center to meet and work with so many dedicated animal welfare individuals and organizations throughout New Jersey and the United States, all with the shared goals of trying to save lives and find more homes for adoptable pets. And together we did save lives, we welcomed over 6000 animals in our care in 2016.  This is just the beginning, St. Hubert’s continues to connect with regional shelters and share best practices while planning how to expand on our life saving work today, tomorrow and for the future of animal welfare.

What makes St. Hubert's Transport/Waystation so unique is our partnerships represent a relationship beyond the simple transfer of animals and includes opportunities for information sharing, and the distribution of funds to support spaying and neutering of public or free roaming animals in the source community. St. Hubert’s is changing the way shelters interact with each other and promoting teamwork. We believe in promoting best practices, and educational resources in order to enhance our joint efforts and heighten the sense of community goodwill within the animal sheltering profession, while helping more and more animals.

Each Source Partner Shelter, which is the shelter we receive the adoptable pet, is given $25.00 per animal by participating in the program. For many small rural shelters, the benefits of participating in the St. Hubert's program is multi-faceted, the funds are directly used to increase spaying and neutering of community pets, while allowing the adoptable pets at the shelter to quickly move to another part of the country where there is a greater chance for them to find homes. Many of the smaller shelters have limited resources, so to contemplate funding a needed community spay and neuter program is beyond the realm of possibilities.As an example, one of our regional sister shelter source partners exists on an annual budget of $26,000. By working together, things become possible.

The Sister Shelter staff also benefits through shared resources and educational opportunities, which helps to increase employee morale and management efficiency. At times, it is often enough for the Shelter Staff to be able to speak to other Animal Welfare Professionals and know they are not alone in their work and dedication to saving animals. 

St. Hubert's also works very closely with numerous destination partner Shelters. These partners are at the other end of the process and receive just as much attention from our St. Hubert's team in making sure they have room for adoptable animals and adhere to the Waystation program quality standards. St. Hubert’s takes its role as guardian to these transported animals very seriously. Animals are altered and evaluated before they go out to be adopted. The program impact goes far beyond saving lives.

Here are some quotes from our Sister shelters and Destination shelters. St. Hubert's is redefining how an animal welfare organization functions and give back- not only do the animals win, but so does the animal shelter community.
The positive ripple effect is contagious. 
Look for more information and developments as 2017 progresses!

“Anderson County PAWS is so happy to report that due to your giveback program we have been able to implement a “Spay or Pay” program for dogs. So far we have altered 23 dogs! We can’t thank St. Hubert’s enough for being a partner and helping us give back to the animals in our community!
Kim Sanders, PAWS
”

Community Outreach Programs Help Thousands of Humans and Pets

St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center now welcomes over 5000 pets into our care each year, but our outreach extends to humans in need as well. Our community outreach programs are focused on helping both pets and people in Northern and Central New Jersey. We are proud to have reached thousands of individuals in 2016, and we’re excited to share updates on our 2016 programs below—as well as our plans for 2017.

Our Food Bank program for pet parents in need has experienced significant growth in 2016. With 2016 program support from M&T Bank and the Church & Dwight Employee Giving Fund, we work with ten human services organizations in New Jersey to distribute pet food and supplies on a regular, ongoing basis to families experiencing financial hardship, and provide support services as needed. We are on track to provide well over 60,000 pet meals to families in need in New Jersey this year—feeding over 183 pets all their meals each day. And we go beyond just food and supplies—we also help clients spay and neuter their pets and receive low-cost medical services. We are committed to meeting the needs of pet parents in our communities in order to keep families together with the pets they love—that’s why we’re looking to further expand this program in 2017 by adding new organizations to our list of partners and deepening our outreach to senior citizen pet parents.

Our 2016 organizational partnerships extend to local domestic abuse organizations, whom we partner with to provide emergency housing for the pets of those fleeing domestic violence. Through our TLCC program (Temporary Loving Critter Care), we help victims leave abusive relationships while ensuring that their animal family members are safe.  Statistics show that between 25 and 40 percent of victims with pets remain in unsafe situations due to reluctance about leaving them behind. Through this program, we provide free emergency sheltering through comforting foster care or in-shelter care for all types of pets and enable visitation opportunities with their guardians until they can be reunited. 

In 2015, St. Hubert’s launched a new program to provide vaccine clinics in underserved areas in Northern and Central New Jersey; we found that 67% of the pets at our first vaccine clinic were unaltered, and many had never seen a veterinarian before. To better meet this need, we held five vaccine clinics in 2016 in targeted areas in Somerville, Morristown, Roxbury, Maplewood, and Dover, NJ. These clinics, made possible through 2016 support from the Head Family Charitable Foundation, provided free vaccines to those for whom even low-cost options were unaffordable or inaccessible. Across these clinics, 39% had never seen a veterinarian before, and nearly half, 47%, were unaltered. We offered assistance with untreated medical issues, and provided free spay/neuter services for unaltered pets – with great success – 74% of unaltered pets in attendance are now spayed and neutered, showing that there was not an ideological opposition, but rather a lack of accessible care. These clinics are helping pets stay healthy, and enabling pet parents in underserved areas in our communities to receive the support services they need. We are committed to providing future clinics to reach those in need, and providing ongoing support to those who attend our clinics; a new position has been created here at St. Hubert’s—thanks to funding from the Fournier Family Foundation--to help meet the needs of pet parents in underserved communities. Our new Community Care Manager, Jenn Gregory, is already making plans to further expand our community outreach, including organizing winter/spring 2017 vaccine clinics in Newark, South Orange, and East Orange, NJ.

In 2016, our free pet helpline, supported in part through funding from the Head Family Charitable Foundation, has received an average of 50 new cases per month. This service provides assistance for those seeking resources such as low-cost veterinary care and pet-friendly housing information, as well as those seeking help resolving pet behavior issues or searching for lost pets. This year, our pet helpline staff has updated the St. Hubert’s website with online resources to expand our reach, and to make it easy to reach out, our staff is reachable by phone, email, and through our Pet Retention Facebook page. In 2016, our helpline staff has noted an increase in calls reporting found pets, likely a result of our staff developing relationships with many volunteer run county and statewide lost and found groups. Our helpline’s 2016 successes include reuniting lost pets with their families, successfully resolving behavior issues, and providing ongoing encouragement and support to pet parents in our communities.

2016 has been a year of growth and success for St. Hubert’s community outreach programs, and we’re looking forward to continuing and building on this important work in 2017. We are committed to being a resource for our communities—identifying and responding to the needs ofunderserved and at-risk populations and making a difference in the lives of both people and pets in New Jersey. Continue to check our news for more information about our community programs.

Visit the Newly Re-Opened St. Hubert's Noah's Ark Campus.

St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center Noah's Ark Campus celebrated its grand re-opening on Sunday, November 6, with an Open House Community Day. The adoptable animals were settled in, and were ready to meet the community. Many people, both old supporters of Noah's, as well as new neighbors came by and commented on how beautiful the renovated facilities are.

The Zephyr, our new custom designed animal transport vehicle was at the Noah's Ark Campus, so the public could tour the largest vehicle of the Waystation transport initiative and learn about the life saving program. The Zephyr allows us to partner with many U.S. shelters through short and long-distance transfers, and relocate adoptable pets to areas where they have a greater chance to find homes. Besides the transport program, St. Hubert's has been very active right here in New Jersey; with educational programs, and numerous community outreach services. 

The Noah's Ark Campus transformation is a testament to how community support, hard work and your donations can create real change. The Campus is now a shelter serving the people and pets in western Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties. The re-opening has been a great success with all our dogs finding new homes in the  first week and many small pocket pets and cats also finding new families to love.

The facilities are as beautiful and functional inside and out. The past structural issues have been corrected, new flooring has been installed, the plumbing has been upgraded, and the electrical system is now up to code. The new optimal HVAC system will keep the animals comfortable throughout the year. The kennels have been enlarged and the animals have a more pleasant outdoor area to play in. Potential Pet Parents will enjoy meeting their new best friend, in one of our two new Meet and Greet rooms. Our experienced staff will evaluate the animals in our new exam and treatment room.

Everything is completely refurbished and up to standards and building codes, we certainly hope you  will come and visit, even if its just to see the renovations and to say hello. If you are not in the area, or just cannot visit, we have posted a short virtual tour on our Noah's Ark web page. St. Hubert's Noah's Ark continues to  be a special community spot in Ledgewood, New Jersey.

We look forward to sharing our new home with the community in the upcoming weeks and years ahead. Consider continuing your St. Hubert's Noah's Ark Campus commitment by volunteering, or by making a donation during this very important first year of service. The animals will be very grateful for your contributions.

St. Hubert's Noah's Ark Campus is located at 1915 Route 46, Ledgewood, NJ 07852
Additional parking will be available for Sunday, November 6th at the Health Pavilion, 1911 Route 46, Ledgewood, NJ 07852
 

Please consider making a donation to the St. Hubert's Noah's Ark Campus Launch Fund. Proceeds from the Launch Fund will go directly to cover the Noah's Ark Campus first year of ongoing daily expenses. 

For any additional information, call Marianne Bosshart, VP Communications and Development at 973-377-7094, ext. 242

Animals From North Carolina Flood Area Arrive At St. Hubert's

October 16, 2016:  St. Hubert’s team always stands ready to assist however we can in response to natural and man-made disasters.  As an Emergency Placement Partner (EPP) with The Humane Society of the United States, we received a request to help by accepting animals from Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center in North Carolina. Wayne County is part of the region affected by devastating flooding from Hurricane Matthew.  We agreed to accept 10 dogs into our adoption program and further offered to serve as the “hub” for a transport to northeast EPPs.   A large transport, carrying animals for a number of partners, could travel to St. Hubert’s and partners could assemble at the Madison campus to meet its arrival.  Distance transports best practices call for pets to be on the vehicle no longer than 10 hours at a stretch, making St. Hubert’s a good stopping point for animals traveling further.   Dogs can be walked to relieve themselves and get some exercise before heading out on the rest of the journey.   Logistics were quickly taken care of and the transport was set to take place on Saturday, 10/15  with pets on board for St. Hubert’s and a number of partners. 

The animals selected for transport are those that were already awaiting adoption in the source shelter.  They were transferred north to find new homes and to free up space for sheltering local pets displaced by the recent flooding until they can be reunited with their families. The alliance between the HSUS and Emergency Placement Partners helps to ensure animals will be safely transported away from disaster areas, obtain the proper care they need and get ready for adoption – all in a timely manner.

Saturday, October 15:  89 dogs and cats boarded the transport early in the morning.  After a stop in Virginia to deliver dogs going to shelters there,  43 dogs and 33 cats/kittens arrived at St. Hubert’s just after dark and when they roled in, they were met by the partners waiting to take guardianship of the pets they had agreed to intake.

In addition to the dogs being welcomed to St. Hubert’s, dogs and cats/kittens  were accepted by EPPs Monmouth County SPCA, Jersey Shore Animal Center, and Cumberland County SPCA in New Jersey as well as The SPCA Serving Erie County NY, New Hampshire SPCA, Upper Valley Humane Society (NH) and Second Chance Animal Shelter (MA).   

St. Hubert’s location in New Jersey and its capacity and experience in managing these animal transfer initiatives, has made St. Hubert’s a regional waystation for emergency transport efforts such as this most recent effort in North Carolina. The transfer/waystation program also allows for a more effective distribution of available pets throughout the northeast, and saves transportation costs, staff time and a duplication of efforts from smaller regional shelters who may not be able to handle the journey themselves.

St. Hubert’s is so grateful for the help and support of all the staff, volunteers and partner organizations involved with this emergency transport. Together we can save more pets within a timely manner and reduce costs. We appreciate Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center for trusting us with this very special cargo of pets. St. Hubert’s will care for all the animals left in our care and make sure they find the homes they deserve.

Come and visit our new arrivals and the many other dogs, cats and small and furry pets looking for families to call their own.

Donations towards the care of these homeless pets and other St. Hubert’s emergency transfer efforts are greatly appreciated.

For more information, contact St. Hubert's at 973-377-7094 ext. 242.

Wings Of Rescue

On July 9th, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center and partner shelters in four states welcomed 133 small dogs to New Jersey from five shelters in southern California to help ease overcrowding from wildfires and high intake. The dogs arrived at Morristown Airport through a California based operation, "Wings of Rescue." There are Doxie mixes, Chihuahuas and mixes, wire coated cuties, Poodle types and furry, fluffy little guys and girls all 20 lbs and under! Together with our east coast placement partners, we're able to widen the safety net for these adorable at-risk animals by moving them to areas where loving homes await!  

In addition to the medical services/spay/neuter we always provide pets prior to adoption, it cost about $125 for each dog to board the airlift. We need our community's assistance to continue to respond to the need. Now is the perfect time to sponsor -- our Matching Gift Challenge continues until 7/31/16 so your donation to cover a dog's journey will actually mean tickets to a new home in NJ for TWO dogs!

In addition to St. Hubert's the shelters listed below have welcomed dogs from this case into their care. Please contact them for more information regarding adoption opportunities.

New Hampshire SPCA, NH: 603-772-2921
Second Chance Animal Shelter, MA: 508-867-5525
Animal Welfare Society, ME: 207-985-3244
Sammy's Hope, NJ: 732-518-2313
Animal Rescue Force, NJ: 732-257-7559
ASPCA, NY: 212-876-7700 (Adoption Center ext. 4120)

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