2021: A Year in Review
Our tagline is “Animals. People. Community.” and we use these words to express our belief that the well-being of animals, people, and communities are intertwined, and that by investing in one part of this ecosystem we uplift everyone – humans and animals.
Our team is focused on creating a more humane community where animals and the people who love them can thrive. This year, we found homes for more than 2,600 animals and moved over 3,200 animals from crisis to care through the WayStation. Through our WayStation Give Back program, we gave our transport partners $119,000 in funds to invest in their own communities, helping them to go after the root causes of pet homelessness and suffering. Together with churches, food banks, mutual aid networks, and human services organizations, we gave out 170,000 pounds of free pet food, filling 260,000 empty pet food bowls with meals.
This year we made great progress in addressing the systemic issues and barriers that cause animals to become homeless. We worked with organizations who serve the most vulnerable, building wrap-around programs and services that allowed us to help people and pets as a family unit.
Every animal we care for is part of a community that involves people, too – families, neighbors, and friends. Through your generous support, we grew our capacity to care for homeless animals, support sister shelters, and serve communities near and far. Here are just a few of the amazing animals and people who are central to our work and our mission. Read the full 2021 Year-End Review.
Investing in ANIMALS
Emergency Cat Rescue
In June, St. Hubert’s received a call about a foul odor emanating from a home in South Bound Brook. Animal control officers discovered an extraordinary number of cats living in deplorable conditions. Mounds of household items and trash were piled up throughout the house. Feces littered the floor, and the smell of ammonia from feline urine, which is hazardous to animals and humans, filled the home.
After the homeowner agreed to surrender the cats, our officers began rescuing the felines as quickly and as gently as possible. Staff worked around the clock to evaluate and treat all the cats. Most were malnourished. Many had upper respiratory infections, chronic eye issues, tapeworms, and gastrointestinal parasites. All were severely infested with fleas. In total, after weeks of humanely trapping, they rescued more than 130 cats and kittens.
Most of the cats were extremely fearful. Our behavior team worked with them patiently in the weeks and months ahead to socialize them and help them learn how to trust people.
Caring for so many cats is a huge undertaking, and St. Hubert’s supporters were eager to help, with many donating to the emergency fund to provide medical care for the sick cats. Other animal welfare organizations helped, including the ASCPA. Foster families signed up to care for the felines until they were ready for adoption.
“The support we got from our community was incredible.” said Tiffany Barrow, vice president of operations.
Investing in PEOPLE
Helping people and animals in the wake of Hurricane Ida
In September, as Hurricane Ida slammed into Louisiana wreaking havoc in its path, we deployed a team of responders to assist in disaster relief efforts. Our WayStation team also leapt into action, working with our partner, Greater Good Charities, to airlift adoptable animals from shelters in Louisiana to free up valuable space for pets who were injured and displaced by the storm until they could be reunited with their families.
Then, only days later, remnants of Hurricane Ida hit New Jersey with tornadoes, record rain, and flooding that left the area in a state of emergency. Our Disaster Response Team deployed to help our own communities, the communities where we live and work, to help animals in distress, like Winnie, a beloved family dog, and distributed resources such as food, cat litter, and other pet supplies to residents and community partners in critical need. Winnie’s family wasn’t home when the flooding began, and the water quickly became too high to reach the house where Winnie was trapped. Our team jumped into action to save Winnie and reunite her with her family.
Investing in our COMMUNITY
ADVOCATING FOR ANIMALS IN NEW JERSEY
St. Hubert’s legacy of animal welfare advocacy in New Jersey has expanded through coalition building, which helped to unite the voice of animal care agencies to influence policymaking that impacts our communities. The Compassion for Community Cats Act, which we strongly support, addresses the sad reality that current New Jersey laws don’t address the humane management of outdoor cats and as a result, community cats are euthanized unnecessarily. This legislation endorses and incentivizes trap-neuter-return to do targeted sterilization and provide ongoing care for cats in their outdoor homes; to decrease shelter euthanasia; and to provide resources to those caring for outdoor cats.
We also joined animal welfare organizations across the state to oppose legislation that would have created new financial barriers for owners of pit bull type dogs and several other breeds, making it harder for families to keep their beloved pets and disincentivizing dog adoption and rescue.
Also, we continued what has been an eight-year effort to prohibit the use of gestation and veal crates that confine mother pigs and baby calves in spaces so small that they are immobilized, unable to even turn around. Due to the duration and severity of their confinement, the use of gestation and veal crates are inherently cruel. We have been proud to join in this historic advocacy effort, reflecting our organization’s commitment to ensure that all animals should be treated humanely and with compassion throughout their lives.
Supporting animals and THE people who love them
Our community programs teams are busier than ever as we have stepped up to meet the needs of people and animals in our communities. We resumed our animal health clinics, focusing on neighborhoods with the greatest need. In 2021 we administered 1,300 essential vaccinations and provided thousands of community members with pet food and critically needed supplies. Our pet food bank, which continued during the pandemic without pause, has seen a record number of new clients receiving food and supplies to help them bridge these hard times; we have given out over 170,000 pounds of food to people experiencing economic stress and increased job and housing insecurity.
We also transported 3,200 animals through the WayStation and were able to support source shelters with almost $119,000 in funds returned through our Give Back program. These funds are used for programs and services, like spay and neuter clinics, to help address the root cause of pet overpopulation.
Despite the challenges we have faced, we are prepared to expand our mission work in the months ahead. In many ways, the pandemic reinforced what we already know: the work of an animal welfare agency is more effective when it is centered around expanding access to care and giving pet owners the resources and support they need to care for and keep their pets.
Looking Ahead
Through your support and generosity, we are positioned to help even more animals, support more families, and advocate for greater protections and networks for animals and the people who love them. We are very hopeful about the future of animal welfare and are using the lessons of this extraordinary and difficult time to re-imagine our work. We are questioning old assumptions, trying new approaches, and tackling head on some of the most challenging issues facing animals and their caregivers. As we look ahead, we see a future that is brighter than ever for our animals and the people who cherish them.
