The purpose of this blog to identify and solve problems for New Jersey’s animals. The focus will primarily be on New Jersey’s animal shelters, but I will also address New Jersey’s wildlife issues as well from time to time. Additionally, I will explore related issues outside of New Jersey’s borders.
I am a former volunteer at New Jersey’s largest kill shelter and a limited admission no-kill shelter. My volunteer experience consists of conducting behavioral evaluations of shelter dogs, adoption counseling, holding adoption events, running a Facebook page dedicated to getting shelter dogs adopted, and fostering dogs. Additionally, I follow developments in the animal sheltering and wildlife ecology fields of study.
The opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any employer or other entity I’m affiliated with.
NJ Animal Observer 
Hi-Thank you for your article on the East Orange Animal Shelter. May I ask where you found the report?
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Christy,
I obtained the inspection report from the New Jersey State Department of Health through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The link to the full inspection report in the blog should work now.
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Hi, I have been a long time reader of your blog and have a question about a situation I am facing with a local animal control in NJ. I was not able to find a direct contact on here, do you have an email address? Thanks.
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Thanks for following the blog. Please feel free to email me at njanimalobserver@gmail.com.
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Thank you for helping to bring justice for the animals whose fate lies in the hands of the ruthless Linden Animal Control facility
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Please forward me your email to mwashingtoninhelmetta@gmail.com
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How can I volunteer to help?
Nancy
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Nancy,
Please email at njanimalobserver@gmail.com and we can discuss. Thanks.
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I believe this outrage has been existing in the Associated Humane Shelter in Newark. I visited the shelter many years ago and what I saw was sickening. I own a dog and cat boarding facility and I am inspected regularly. Who inspects these shelters? What can we do to get an accounting of the funds that are disappearing that should be used for the animals. A petition? Writing our elected officials. Contact the news media?
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Gael,
AHS-Newark’s issues go way back. In 2003, the New Jersey Commission of Investigation issued a scathing report on the shelter’s care of animals and use of funds.
Click to access ahs.pdf
Subsequently, AHS settled with the Division of Consumer Affairs and paid a hefty fine related to their fundraising practices. In 2009 and 2011, the New Jersey Department of Health issued terrible inspection reports on AHS-Newark.
The City of Newark’s Health Department must inspect the shelter each year in order for the facility to have a license to operate. As with most local health departments, these inspections are inadequate. If enough people contact the New Jersey Department of Health, they will conduct a proper inspection. You can contact them at 609-826-4872 or 609-826-5964.
I think all the ideas you suggest, petitions, contacting elected officials and the news media all are good tactics.
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Shoot me an email in regards to Bergen County Shelter
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Stayin’ Alive Long Beach conducts research on the Long Beach, CA shelter in an effort to influence City policies and bring reform to our shelter. Would love to talk with you about shelter research. You can find us at http://www.stayinalivelongbeach.org
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I read your December 2021 review of the Humane Rescue Alliance and was horrified. If you do any further research on that organization, I would be interested in knowing.
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