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.
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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:
Non-Monetary:
Amazon Wish List:
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 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 needthroughout 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 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
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 ( 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