Assistance Provided for Six Months Will End April 30

Madison, NJ (April 15, 2019) St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center has extended its agreement with the City of Newark to provide emergency sheltering service for lost and stray animals rescued by the City’s Animal Control through April 30, 2019, after which The City will use alternate housing for its animals.  St. Hubert’s responded to a crisis situation in Newark in early November and agreed to provide services through December 31, 2018. The Center has twice extended that deadline to provide city officials with additional time to identify intermediate and long-term permanent arrangements for the shelter and care of its homeless animal population.  

“St. Hubert’s cares deeply for the animals and residents of Newark and is pleased that we’ve been able to extend our assistance from 60 days to 6 months, though we have explained to The City during our ongoing meetings that we cannot continue to absorb the financial hardship it places on our organization, ” said St. Hubert’s Interim President Erika Mathews. It is not sustainable for St. Hubert’s to continue to provide service from our shelter facilities.  The homeless animals in Newark will be best served by a centrally located facility that can provide ample resources and care.”

St. Hubert’s is committed to continuing its outreach work in the Newark community, regularly supporting Newark pet parents in need through its pet food/supplies bank services, free vaccination clinics and spay/neuter assistance.

Mathews stated that since November 2018 through mid-April, St. Hubert’s has provided intake and care for 1,016 Newark animals, many of whom needed extensive emergency or routine medical care.  During free clinics offered in Newark 447 pets received their annual vaccinations/microchips and more than 375 dogs and cats have been provided with spay/neuter surgery through St. Hubert’s at no cost to residents or The City.  

“The experience and insight St. Hubert’s has gained in serving Newark these last 173 days will enable us to support The City with input and guidance as it develops its best practice long-term program to meet the community’s needs,” said Mathews.  “We would like to be a part of that permanent program if a financially sustainable, comprehensive and multi-faceted solution can be reached with The City.”

Any questions regarding Newark’s animal sheltering plans after April 30 should be directed to City officials.

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 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 educationand pet loss support. St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center has shelters in Madison, North Branch, and Ledgewood, NJ and its dog training and behavior school in Madison. 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.