From Crisis to Care -- Emergency Cat Rescue Totals 193

Update - 8/1/2018

The final count of cats from the ongoing emergency rescue is 193. Our team reports that they are confident that no cats remain on the property so daily visits have ceased.  They will of course continue with periodic surveillance to be certain no kitty is left behind.  We understand that the property owner is receiving some help in cleaning up the area so as not to attract additional animals.  The cats in our care continue to improve. A few are getting comfortable in there new homes and more than thirty of them have been welcomed to new barn/farm locations where they are settling in nicely.  The team has gotten to know them and watch firsthand as they blossom—from wary, frightened, uncomfortable behavior into relaxed, serene or playful kitties exhibiting “normal” feline activities like seeking human attention, investigating their surroundings and grooming themselves. All have been spayed/neutered and many are ready for adoption at both our Noah’s Ark Campus and the Madison shelter.  Some will make nice house pets and others are available to barn/farm type homes.  We are grateful to some of our shelter partners who have welcomed cats from St. Hubert’s to their adoption programs to help us with space for this large, unexpected group—partnerships make it possible for us to assist more animals.  Special gifts to help with the unanticipated costs of caring for these deserving cats can be made here.  Thanks to all who have already lent their support.   

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St. Hubert’s Responds To Feline Emergency During Heat Wave--176 Rescued

Update - 7/13/2018

The rescued cats are making wonderful progress.  The Noah’ Ark Campus is dedicated to their care and cannot currently welcome visitors.  All pets for adoption are housed at Madison, North Branch and Everyday Adoption Center inside PetSmart Mt. Olive and are available during regular adoption hours.

It’s wonderful to see the kitties from the Sussex location relaxing, seeking human attention and looking happier and healthier with each passing day.  Easy access to good nutritious food and clean housing, not to mention being parasite free and having their medical needs addressed, is allowing them to return to “normal” feline behaviors.  Some are enjoying playing with toys, probably for the first time ever and individual personalities are becoming more evident. 

Spay/neuter has been completed for about a third of the group and surgeries are taking place daily.  Eight of the cats have just been transferred to Madison and are available for adoption.  On Friday, July 13 the first few pairs were delivered to their new farm homes—we’re lucky to have additional homes waiting for some of the others once they are ready.

With aroma therapy ongoing, soothing classical music and enriching human interaction throughout the day all of them--from the adolescents to the sweet, stately seniors—continue to blossom.  We’re so grateful for the support of our wonderful community in order to be able to ensure that each and every one gets whatever it is that he/she needs to become whole again.  Click here to make a special gift for their care.

It’s also important to remember the human component to cases like this one.  Simply removing animals does not solve the problem and recidivism is almost always 100 percent without effective intervention. Hoarding is a complex issue and must be addressed with compassion and understanding with mental health professionals.  St. Hubert’s is committed to working with all agencies and officials to examine the human health component and find ways to provide services to individuals as well as the animals. We’re grateful to NJTV’s Brenda Flanagan for visiting the cats and insightfully addressing the issue.

Watch NJTV's Coverage

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We anticipate it will be several more weeks before all of the cats are ready for their new homes.  We encourage those who can provide barn/farm type homes to email St. Hubert’s at info@sthuberts.org and provide a phone number so that we can reach out as the cats become ready to move to permanent homes.  We prefer to place them in pairs or small groups.  There are still a few more cats at the original location and our field team is on site daily to be sure that all are rescued.

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Center Rescues 172 Cats From Dire Situation

St. Hubert’s has taken on an emergency cat rescue operation larger than any one we’ve previously undertaken and needs the support of the community to assist us caring for these most needy newest temporary residents.

As June drew to a close, St. Hubert’s was asked to assist with the rescue, sheltering and rehoming of what was initially thought to be up to 100 cats unconfined on a rural property in Sussex County. One of the original caretakers of the cats passed away within the last few years and the other elderly resident became overburdened and unable to provide care for them. The home and property have fallen into disrepair, now without electricity or running water. We were advised that over the years some cats had been removed from the site but the situation was never fully resolved and so the number continued to grow.

With the cooperation of the property owner and concerned neighbors St. Hubert’s agreed to take custody and responsibility for the cats, originally intending to remove them in small groups over a period of time while providing food and water to those awaiting relocation. Upon assessing the situation on site and with an intense heat wave beginning, it was determined that the majority of the cats were undernourished, a number of them also exhibiting symptoms of illness and/or injury. Plans were made to mobilize immediately to rescue the cats. A staging area for intake and triage/treatment was set up quickly at the Madison shelter and an additional staff member, experienced in trap/neuter/return and apprehending cats in difficult situations was added to the team in order to expedite getting the cats to safety.

Due to the oppressive heat, the field team was on site at dawn beginning on June 26 and also worked late into the evening to gather up the cats and bring them to Madison where the medical and care teams tended to their needs. As the week went on and cats were transported it became apparent that the individual estimate of 100 was conservative—172 cats have been welcomed to St. Hubert’s to date and the field team remains vigilant at the site to be certain none will be left behind.

All of the cats rescued have been vaccinated, dewormed, treated for fleas and spay/neuter is being provided. Some are being treated for illness or injury of varying severity, while others are expected to be available for rehoming soon. Responsible farm/barn homes will be sought for those cats unable able to transition to living as indoor house pets.

In order to accommodate this large group and to provide them with a calm, comforting environment as they recover we have re-organized the space at our Noah’s Ark Campus to serve as the emergency cat shelter. Animals from Noah’s have been temporarily moved to our other shelters in Madison, North Branch and the Everyday Adoption Center inside PetSmart Mt. Olive.

We continue to be open for adoptions 7 days a week at those sites and will update when we have a projected date for the re-opening of the Noah’s campus.

Monetary gifts to help with the costs of general care, spay/neuter and medical treatments from relatively simple to more serious can be made here. Food, litter and supplies can be dropped off at our shelters or ordered from our Amazon wish list for direct shipment at go.sthuberts.org/amazondonate.

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460 Puerto Rico Pets Reunited

1,279 Homeless Animals Welcomed to Mainland

1,739 Total Relocated After Hurricane Maria  

On Sunday, June 17, St. Hubert’s welcomed the final monthly Puerto Rico Animal Unite airlifts bringing 52 dogs and cats to the mainland to rejoin their families.  From January through June 460 animals that were separated from their relocated families have been reunited at no cost to the pet parents. 

The Puerto Rico Animal Unite initiative began in January 2018, funded by an initial investment by the JPB Foundation which brought St. Hubert’s together with agencies in Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas. On the island, El Faro De Los Animales took the lead on coordinating the care necessary for pets to make the flight such as vaccinations, testing and health certifications. The Category 5 Hurricane forced many people to relocate to the mainland. Traveling with animals was often cost prohibitive or logistically impossible. Many of the families left their animals in the care of friends, family or neighbors while some left one member of the household behind until the animals could be brought over through the initiative. We’re honored to serve as the mainland reunification coordination partner in this amazing undertaking, helping to make families whole again.  Once they arrived on the mainland St. Hubert's provided ground or air transport to get them back to their families, now spread across 28 states:  California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin.          

The reunification effort is just one way that St. Hubert’s has helped Puerto Rico pets and people after the hurricane. Back in September, we committed to a long-term response to the island which began with welcoming 786 homeless animals--dogs, cats and 3 pot-bellied pigs--from the island's animal shelters via emergency airlifts immediately following the storm.  Our Sister Shelter WayStation destination partners mobilized and the pets were taken in to adoption programs at shelters from New Jersey and up the eastern seaboard as far as Toronto, Canada.  Arriving flights were unloaded and then repacked with animal airline transport crates, pet supplies and human relief items--a total of more than 5 tons of much needed items sent back to the island.  Between October 14, 2017 and June 23, 2018 an additional 493 homeless dogs and cats have been welcomed for adoption on the mainland.  

St. Hubert's deployed experienced staff on a number of occasions, visiting shelters and rescues throughout Puerto Rico, and provided manpower and medical supplies on the island of Vieques as well.  A number of Puerto Rico shelters have been added to the WayStation and scholarships were provided to enable two Puerto Rico shelter staff members to attend the annual Animal Care EXPO conference in Kansas City in May.  

 We’re happy to share more of the emotional reunion moments and will be forever grateful to the tireless efforts of so many who helped to make each one happen.

Your donations in support of this effort will be doubled throughout June.  www.sthuberts.org/matchinggift

Update: 4/13/18

More Puerto Rico Animal Unite Airlifts on the Way

Get ready for more joyful reunions! We have staff on the ground in San Juan assisting with the preparations for Puerto Rico Animal Unite airlifts- we'll be at Morristown Airport Friday, 4/13 and Sunday, 4/15 to welcome them to the mainland. Many happy families have just a few more days to go before they'll have their dogs and cats back in their arms. Stay tuned for updates here and on social media.

St. Hubert's Continues Work with Puerto Rico Animal Unite

Update 3/6/18

Plans and preparations are well underway for the March Puerto Rico Animal Unite airlift of pets coming to the mainland to be reunited with their relocated families.  The goal is to transport 1,000 animals to their families over 6 months.  Please enjoy this video and join us in celebrating the February 24 reunion weekend at St. Hubert's.  

Keep checking our website and social media pages for updates on our next incoming flights!

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If you or someone else you know needs help relocating pets from Puerto Rico, please visit #mypetbelongswithme or the Puerto Rico Animal Unite Facebook Page

St. Hubert's Welcomes Another Flight as Part of the Puerto Rico Animal Unite Initiative 

The second flight of animals from the Puerto Rico Animal Unite Initiative is here! St. Hubert’s welcomed 37 dogs and cats early this afternoon, doing our part to achieve the goal of reuniting 1,000 animals with their owners in the next six months. President/CEO Heather Cammisa along with Vice President Becky Burton coordinated and accompanied the flight from Puerto Rico to Morristown Municipal Airport.

After an emotional afternoon of family reunions, most of the pets that arrived Saturday morning have either been reconnected with their families or are currently on their way. For the rest, we have coordinated commercial flights and smaller ground transports to ensure a safe and easy trip for each and every animal.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance to relocate their pet from Puerto Rico, please visit #mypetbelongswithme.

Follow our St. Hubert's Facebook Page for more videos, pictures and updates!

The second round of pets belonging to Puerto Rico residents who relocated to the mainland will be welcomed at St. Hubert’s on Saturday February 24th to be reunited with their families! 

We will be facilitating more reunions like this one of Byron and his family who were separated when Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last fall. 

St Hubert’s is honored to have been approached to be the lead partner and hub site for the Puerto Rico Animal Unite initiative because of our expertise in efficient long distance animal relocation and disaster response.

The goal for this initiative is to assist 1,000 family pets over the next 6 months, thanks to the support from the JPB Foundation who makes this work possible.

If you or someone else you know is looking to relocate their pet in Puerto Rico, they can visit #mypetbelongswithme. 

Follow our St. Hubert's Facebook page for more videos, pictures and updates! 

St. Hubert's Facilitates Reunification of Puerto Rico Pets And Their Families

Update 2/7/18

The first group of pets whose travel to St. Hubert’s was made possible by our partnership in Puerto Rico Animal Unite and generous support from The JPB Foundation, are happily at home with their families on the mainland.   We continue to be honored and grateful to be the facilitator of the final leg of each one’s journey home.  

Following the delivery of their precious cargo to a number of relocated families throughout the Midwest and up to New England, with the amazing and energizing opportunity to witness the joyful reunions, our transport teams arrived home safely.  The eight animals that we arranged to send on nonstop commercial flights further west arrived back in their loved ones’ arms happily and without incident.

For adorable Merida and her friendly feline sidekick Gia, the road home was a little bit more complicated.   Their people are now residing in North Dakota and there were no available direct flights.  They’d need an escort to travel with them since they certainly couldn’t go on a flight with a layover all alone.   We found an angel named Sherri—who also happens to be a flight attendant—who said she and her husband Mark would gladly fly with them!  Merida and Gia met the size requirements for being able to accompany them onto the plane in carriers that could be placed under their seats.  Monday morning, February 5, St. Hubert’s Community Care manager Jenn met the wonderful couple and excitedly placed Merida and Gia in their care, happy in the knowledge that they’d be home at last by nightfall. 

The flight to Chicago was fine and the little duo traveled well with their new friends.  And then the news came that the connecting flight to North Dakota was cancelled due to weather conditions there.  Our disappointment that it seemed they’d have to fly back to Newark and their heartbroken family would need to wait until we could try again was unfounded.  Our angels weren’t going to give up that easily—they simply booked a hotel, shopped for a few extra pet supplies and the group spent the night right there in Chicago, hoping for good news in the morning. 

It happened—they would indeed be able to catch a flight to North Dakota later in the day! Early Tuesday evening,  February 6, Jenn got the exciting news that a tearful reunion was in progress at the airport and the family is whole again.   Families belong together and the incredible network of partners making it happen look forward to many more happy reunions in the months to come.

St. Hubert’ will welcome another airlift of family pets from the island later this month.  Those who relocated to the mainland following Hurricane Maria and are still waiting to bring their animal family members home to them should contact Puerto Rico Animal Unite for assistance. 

Update 1/30/18

And away they go! We are happy to announce that some of the beloved Puerto Rico pets have left the building and will soon be arriving at airports across the country to reunite with their owners- who have been patiently awaiting their homecoming. After spending a few nights with us at St. Hubert’s, eight pets flew out of Newark Airport on five separate flights!

Our ground transport team is making their way through their final leg of the trip as they deliver pets to their owners in the western half of the country. Seven out of ten dogs have been happily reunited with their human family members, while the remaining three are almost home. Our team will have made stops from Ohio to Texas and just about everywhere in between by the time they are done.

As the reunions ensued, so did the tears. We couldn’t be happier to be a part of the Puerto Rico Animal Unite initiative that allows families—canine, feline, and human—to stay together.

If you or someone else you know is looking to relocate their pet in Puerto Rico, they can visit #mypetbelongswithme. 

Our St. Hubert's Facebook page will also be posting videos, pictures and updates as well--check it out! 

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Update 1/29/18

In addition to the heartwarming stories of reunifications this weekend at our shelter, St. Hubert’s is pleased to have coordinated with the Humane Society of Vero Beach to facilitate reunions for families who relocated to Florida after the hurricanes. We thank Sunjet Aviation who airlifted 30 dogs to the Humane Society of Vero Beach which is serving as the way station and center for reunions for the state. 

Staff and visitors at both of our organizations were experiencing beautiful family moments simultaneously, as excited pet parents arrived to pick up their dogs and cats throughout the weekend. Together we celebrate the wonderful partnerships that are making it possible to reunite families with their beloved pets- thank you El Faro de los Animales, JPB Foundation, Puerto Rico Animal Unite and David Brownstein for your commitment to making this happen!

Be sure to check out the News 12 NJ piece from Madison where they were on hand to capture the magic.News 12 NJ was on hand at Madison Sunday to capture some of the magic. 

Update: 1/27/18

First flight from Puerto Rico landed safely and right on time.  Twenty three dogs and five cats, escorted by Becky Burton and Colleen Harrington, were welcomed at Morristown Airport by our eager transport team.  Within the hour they were enjoying their lunch back at the Madison shelter, completely unaware that they will soon be back in the arms of their families.   The plane refueled, loaded on empty airline crates needed for the next group of passengers, and then headed back to San Juan.   Also on board the return flight were two special canine passengers whose families are moving back home now that repairs and conditions have improved where they reside in Puerto Rico.  Another flight arrives early afternoon Sunday and the reunions will begin Sunday evening.  We’ll keep you updated here and on Facebook.  

1/26/18

Exciting, heartwarming weekend news at St. Hubert’s. The first groups of pets belonging to Puerto Rico residents who relocated to the mainland will be welcomed at Morristown Airport on Saturday January 27, and Sunday January 28 and will shortly be reunited with their families!  Due to our expertise in efficient long distance animal relocation and disaster response, we were approached by an animal welfare individual in Puerto Rico and the JPB foundation to be the lead partner and hub site in the newly formed Puerto Rico Unite initiative.  We will be facilitating the reunions of pets and people separated when Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last fall.  Many who needed to relocate to the mainland immediately had no way to bring their pets with them and others who need to relocate have not yet done so because they do not want to leave their animal family members behind. Puerto Rico Animal Unite is the answer to both scenarios and removes the barriers of transportation availability and/or financial constraints so that families can stay together. The goal is to assist 1,000 family pets to leave the island over the next 6 months with the support from the JPB Foundation to help make it possible.

St. Hubert’s sent VP of Direct Animal Care & Lifesaving Partnerships Becky Burton and Transfer and WayStation Coordinator Colleen Harrington, who are handling mainland logistics, to Puerto Rico and they will escort the canine and feline passengers into Morristown Municipal Airport on the first flight into New Jersey this Saturday morning.   On Sunday evening a number of families now residing in the tri-state area will come to St. Hubert’s to pick up their pets. The other pets will either be transported by St. Hubert’s to reunification sites across the country in specially equipped vehicles or flown to locations in the far western half of the country.  St. Hubert’s partners at shelters along the varied routes will be on standby to assist as reunion sites and to ensure pet care in any unforeseen travel disruptions. 

Our supporters are an integral part of the work we are able to accomplish—please consider joining the effort to keep ALL family members together with a special gift so that heartwarming reunions like this one will continue.   

https://www.facebook.com/mypetbelongswithme/videos/1817808148237967/

We will be posting updates on our Facebook page here as well! 

https://www.facebook.com/StHubertsAnimal/

Sister Shelter WayStation Program Takes to the Air!

Thanks to the generous support of GreaterGood.org and Freekibble.com, St. Hubert’s will welcome monthly airlifts dubbed “Freekibble Flight to Freedom” via Wings of Rescue will arrive at Morristown Airport for a year.  The inaugural flight, met by an enthusiastic crew of staff and volunteers, arrived on two arrived via two planes on Sunday evening, May 27.  On board were 86 at-risk  dogs and puppies relocating to northeastern WayStation destination partner organizations with capacity and plenty of adoptive homes available. 

Learn More About The Sister Shelter WayStation Program

Learn more

St. Hubert’s Sister Shelter WayStation Program, operating since August 2016, is a catalyst for ending the euthanasia of healthy, treatable dogs in the United States where there is considerable pet population disparity.  With St. Hubert’s as the hub, a lifesaving network of 70+ organizations are partnered and operate under a single set of protocols to connect areas of need with areas of opportunity.  The program has already relocated more than 7,200 dogs/puppies since its inception and provides “give back” funding from destination to source organizations for every dog relocated.  Those funds, one aspect of the program’s “hands up” resource sharing component, are earmarked for providing affordable spay/neuter in their communities to address the root problem.   

The addition of the monthly airlifts will expand the reach of the WayStation safety net, enabling us to assist additional organizations in need who lie beyond the “best practices” range for responsible ground transport without layover.    

St. Hubert's Assists with Hudson County Case

St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center Welcomes 16 Small Dogs

Update—January 22, 2018

Quickly after becoming available for adoption, this great group of friendly little dogs all found homes very quickly. This included Pudding, who’s new mom Jessica just couldn’t wait to take home! Their smiling faces in their adoption photo reflect how all of the adopters, dogs, and staff here at St. Hubert’s felt about these happy endings! A few of the moms and their infants continue to thrive in the care of our experienced fosters and will return to the shelter once ready for adoption.

All 16 newcomers have been pronounced in good health!  Some needed a little cosmetic work and as she did when we had all the poodles last summer Erica Ortiz, operator of Shampooches, brought her mobile grooming unit and her assistant Victoria Konczynski to Madison to volunteer their skills.  Two sweet Mommy dogs being fostered by our experienced infant caregivers got special spa treatments before leaving for their temporary homes with their kids.  Others whose coats required some expert trimming visited the unit as well.   We’re so grateful for this needed professional help!   Staff got the rest cleaned up and bathed and spay/neuters will begin on Monday in our clinic.  We anticipate several will be ready for adoption as early as Tuesday.  Stay tuned!

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Late Wednesday night St. Hubert’s VP of Direct Animal Care and Lifesaving Partnerships Becky Burton received a call from Animal Control Officer Fernando Rosario from New Jersey Humane Society.  He was in Union City (Hudson County) responding to a case in which an overwhelmed caretaker had a large number of dogs in the home—more than could be provided proper care and attention. The pet parent was willing to surrender the dogs for adoption if assured that they’d be safe and carefully placed in new, loving homes.  Fernando wanted to know whether St. Hubert’s could assist, Becky assured him that of course we would and they agreed to speak again next morning once all dogs were gently removed from the home and at NJHS. We partner with NJHS often, most notably last summer when we welcomed to St. Hubert’s 27 poodles they rescued from extreme cruelty and neglect.

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On Thursday everything was in order and just after noon St. Hubert’s team headed out in our transport vehicle The Griffin and returned to Madison with 16 little dogs who immediately stole the hearts of staff assembled to greet them. By 4 p.m. everyone was unloaded and the team began the intake process—a preliminary exam and any needed vaccines for each dog. They’ll settle in overnight and continue the process of preparing to be adopted.  Professional groomers will be volunteering their time to get everyone “cleaned up and fluffed.”    

A special gift will help us to provide each one with whatever he or she needs during the stay with us.  Check here and our Facebook page here for updates and information on when the newcomers will be ready for “meet and greets” with potential adopters.  

Three Dogs Rescued From Bitter Cold on New Year's Day

Update—January 22, 2018

Canela, Camila and Cerdo

Camila had the best weekend ever! She has found her new home and we’re sure both her and the Antico family can’t wait to start their life together. Her brothers are busy with the enrichment team daily getting used to walking with a leash and collar and we hope that they too will find their perfect match by the end of this week or next. In the meantime check out these cute pictures of them out on play dates!

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The little trio of siblings are doing great!  They are in good health, eating well and becoming more comfortable in their surroundings.  While they love hanging out and playing together, they are learning to spend time with people individually and we’re seeing good progress.  They were spayed/neutered on Friday, 1/12 and all were up and feeling themselves just a short time later.  It won’t be long before each is  ready to start interviewing a family to call his/her own!

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2018 was ushered in accompanied by unusually frigid temperatures—weather conditions that were both inhumane and illegal for dogs to be living outdoors.  But on New Year’s Day, St. Hubert’s received a call from NJ Animal Control and Rescue about 3 dogs who’d been discovered the night before alone and unsheltered in an industrial area of North Bergen.   Together with the police and a team of high school athlete volunteers, all three were eventually apprehended. 

We work often with NJ Animal Control and Rescue and our followers will recall one of their high profile cases last summer when we welcomed the 27 badly neglected Poodles they’d removed from deplorable conditions.   We agreed to take in this trio as well.

Upon arrival, our medical team examined them to ascertain whether they needed any emergency or immediate medical care.  Thankfully there was no frostbite or anything else worrisome, but they were three cold and scared dogs.  St. Hubert’s definitely has the cure for that!  

Originally reported to be a mother and her two puppies, once in hand it was discovered that the largest one assumed to be the mother is actually the same age.  The trio is estimated to be about 9 months old.

Dubbed by their rescuers Cebro, Camila and Canela, they are happy to be safe and warm, and are adjusting well to their surroundings and the attention of staff.   We expect it won’t be long at all before they’ll be ready for “meet and greets” with potential new families.

While we don’t know how these poor pups came to be on their own in such cold weather, we all know that it’s up to people to provide safe, humane housing for their animals.  New Jersey has specific law regarding dogs housed or spending time outdoors and it includes language clearly defining “adverse weather conditions.”  To learn more you can read the law here.    http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/PL17/189_.HTM

St. Hubert's, AVMF, NJVMA Collaborate to Care for Animals Airlifted from Puerto Rico

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nearly 800 animals evacuated from Puerto Rico

Veterinary Community joins with St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center.

Madison, NJ, 10/24/17 – In the wake of Hurricane Maria, airplanes filled with dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and even three pot-bellied pigs from shelters in Puerto Rico arrived around-the-clock at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey.  The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) provided a $38,000 grant for the first round of medical supplies needed for the emergency intake and care of the 786 animals airlifted to safety. The New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association (NJVMA) put out a call to its membership. To date 25 veterinarians, often accompanied by their technician teams, have volunteered to provide examinations and care, putting in more than 162 hours of volunteer time.
 
The emptied airplanes returned to Puerto Rico with both human and animal supplies collected by St. Hubert’s.
 
“Having been born and raised in Puerto Rico, with my family and friends still there, words cannot express how grateful I am for the positive impact St. Hubert’s has made in the lives of four and two- legged Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria,” said NJVMA member and veterinary volunteer, Dr. Janirka Ponce of the Animal Infirmary of Hoboken.  

 St. Hubert’s was chosen as the initial emergency intake center in the United States because of its network of shelters along the eastern United States and its regular work helping overcrowded shelters throughout the southeast and other parts of the country. The St. Hubert’s network assisted animals from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  
 
“We are so proud of and grateful for the collaboration and challenging work of so many to make this effort possible,” said Heather Cammisa, President & CEO of St. Hubert’s. “The veterinary community has been a critical ally to help these deserving animals,” she added.
 
After the initial veterinary examination, vaccinations, blood screening, preventatives, microchipping and the issuance of health certificates the animals transfer on to St. Hubert’s and other organizations’ adoption programs for ongoing care and placement. Some of the animals have already been adopted, including the three pot-bellied pigs who were adopted together by a New Jersey family.
 
“The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is committed to helping all veterinarians improve the health and welfare of all animals. The prompt and caring response of New Jersey veterinarians to tend to and treat the hundreds of animals brought to them from storm-ravaged Puerto Rico is our mission in action,” said Jan Strother, DVM, chair of the Foundation.  

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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 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
 
ABOUT THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL FOUNDATION  The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world.  More than 89,000 member veterinarians worldwide are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities.  For more than 50 years, the Foundation has been helping veterinarians help animals with support of animal welfare, education, advocacy, community service and research programs and activities.  AVMF is a 50l(c)3 tax exempt charitable organization.  http://www.avmf.org/  
 
ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION The New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association was founded in 1884 and is a professional association representing the state’s licensed veterinarians. The NJVMA is dedicated to advancing the veterinary profession in New Jersey. The association is a significant information resource, both for its members and for those outside the profession. htttp://njvma.org

Pets Arrive from Puerto Rico

Weekend of October 7/8 - Many more animals arrived this weekend - 139 pets on two flights which were cared for and looked after by staff, volunteers and veterinarians at our Madison facility. On Monday, a transport left our facility to destinations ready to find adoptable families for these homeless pets from Puerto Rico.

October 6 - Tonight, NJ State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak is joining the staff and volunteers of St. Hubert's and HSUS to greet 122 animals coming in from Puerto Rico on this sixth flight from the island to our campus. Yesterday morning, 181 animals were flown in. Since last Saturday, we have now welcomed 644 animals!

Earlier this afternoon, many dogs and cats were transported from our campus to shelter partners around the region with assistance from RedRover. 

Senator Lesniak lent a hand during a recent airlift of animals at Morristown Muni Airport.

The volunteer team from RedRover Responders helped with getting the pups ready for transport from St. Hubert's to other shelters.

October 5 - The three pigs we welcomed from the October 1 airlift from Puerto Rico have gone to their adoptive home, together! This mom and two babies were beloved residents of the Humane Society of Puerto Rico and thanks to the work of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), they were readied for transport and flew to St. Hubert's to find a new home. 

Pets arriving in carriers from flight

October 3 - Another 100 animals arrived today with a Wednesday flight also scheduled from Puerto Rico. Volunteer vets are working nearly nonstop to ensure all of the dogs and cats are ready for new homes with health certificates in hand (paw, actually)!

October 1 - Yesterday, an airlift from the island of Puerto Rico arrived at Morristown Municipal Airport around 9:30 pm with 70 dogs, 4 cats and 3 pot-bellied pigs! (#whenpigsfly) For the return flights, all of the planes have been packed with supplies for the humans and animals of Puerto Rico that were generously donated from so many of you in the last few days. Currently, the needs have changed from diapers and feminine products to anti-diarrhea meds, peptic stomach remedies, over-the-counter pain relief like Advil, antiseptic ointments, Band-Aids, disinfectant wipes and tablets like "Potable Aqua" to purify water for drinking. If you can contribute any of these items, please bring them to our main lobby entrance.

Many thanks to Ethical Products Inc. for donating 400 stainless steel bowls for our pet visitors - especially since we will continue to welcome additional animals this week! 

Welcome signage at St. Hubert's entrance.

September 30 - Early this morning around 2:00 AM, the first flight from Puerto Rico arrived with 91 animals at the FTB/FTO hangar at Morristown Municipal Airport in a jet flown by volunteer pilots from the nonprofit Wings of Rescue. Teams from St. Hubert's and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) quickly unloaded the dogs and cats and transported them to our Madison campus to decompress and receive food and water. Human supplies donated from generous members in our community were loaded onto the plane for the return trip to the island.

Many volunteers continue to assist with welcoming the animals.

Today, veterinarians from the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association are providing health checkups as we help HSUS coordinate efforts for eventual transfers of the animals to other shelters for adoption. 

Tonight, at 8:30 pm, another flight is arriving with dogs and cats from the hurricane-devastated island. Our teams are standing by!

Vets and techs provided health checkups for all of the animals

A big thank you to GreaterGood.org for their assistance and help in securing pet medicine from Abaxis!

Northeast Shelters Mobilize To Help Areas Impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

(Updates below shelter listing)

Many thaNks to the  following oRgAnizations who are HELPING US WITH LOCAL TRANSPORTS OR welcoming ANIMALS INTO THEIR SHELTERS:

Animal Alliance in Lambertville, NJ

Animal Lifeline in Warrington, PA

Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, NJ

Burlington County Animal Shelter in Westampton, NJ

Camden County Animal Shelter in Sewell, NJ

Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, MA

Father John’s Animal House in Lafayette, NJ          

Gloucester County Animal Shelter in Clayton, NJ

Humane Society of Atlantic County, Atlantic City, NJ

Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick, NJ

Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown, NJ 

Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, NJ

Monadnock Humane Society, Swanzey, NH

New Hampshire SPCA, Stratham, NH

Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater, NJ 

SAVE – A Friend to Homeless Animals in Princeton, NJ

SPCA Serving Erie County in West Seneca, NY 

Voorhees Animal Orphanage in Voorhees, NJ

Update: September 10

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PAART (Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team) arrives on Sept. 9 at St. Hubert's with animals from Charleston Animal Society in SC.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) continues to coordinate flights and ground transports from hurricane areas with their Emergency Placement Partners, like St. Hubert’s, around the country.  Yesterday, we received 48 dogs and 75 cats on the Wings of Rescue flight from Tampa coordinated by the HSUS.  The cats stayed overnight and are transferring out via our Feline Pipeline program, with many going to New England shelters. 

In total, our WayStation program accepted 232 animals this weekend and coordinated all the transfers to our destination partners.  

Watch Humane Society of Tampa Bay's Live video of animals boarding the Wing's of Rescue Flight to NJ on September 9:

On Saturday, September 9th, Animal Planet featured individuals and organizations involved in moving animals out of harm's way from shelters located in Texas, South Carolina and Florida. St. Hubert's is highlighted in the piece near the end of the show. 

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September 7 - As we continue to receive dogs and cats from the Houston area affected by Hurricane Harvey, we are now welcoming additional animals through Saturday from shelters affected by the new hurricane aiming for Florida - Irma.

Arriving via a Wings of Rescue airlift tonight, coordinated by the Humane Society of the United States, are 34 dogs and 2 cats to be picked up by several of our WayStation sister shelters. 

On Friday morning we’ll be welcoming a regularly scheduled transport from one of our partners.  During the time we’re assisting the areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, we continue on with all of our regular activities with partners and the community who depends on us for animal rescue and care.  No animals in or regularly entering our shelters are being displaced due to our additional emergency response.

Another airlift from Houston will arrive late Friday afternoon.  An evacuation scheduled for Friday evening by our WayStation partner, Grand Strand Humane Society in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, will be bringing us 36 dogs/puppies and 20+ cats to be welcomed by St. Hubert’s and our partners.  Our existing feline Feline Pipeline program enables us to welcome the cats to the WayStation and then prepare them to move on to our New England partners where capacity and adoptive homes are available.

On Saturday, 50 small/medium dogs will be coming in from the Charleston Animal Society in South Carolina on a ground transport provided by Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team.

We are currently awaiting details on an expected airlift from Tampa on Saturday.

We continue to be grateful for the support and generosity of our members and community.  We’ve very quickly become more than well stocked with supplies that will be shared with our partners and encourage those wishing to help to make a gift here or to consider gift cards for specialty items we may discover are needed.  Gasoline gift cards to offset expenses for our transport vehicles delivering pets to our partners throughout New England would be helpful as well.   

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September 5 - With over 1,000,000 people and their pets displaced by Hurricane Harvey, the Houston SPCA continues to send out water rescue teams. They have provided nearly 7,000 pounds of supplies to the ASPCA to help those in the Beaumont/Jefferson County area.

Recently, they also implemented a unique system of helping lost pets reunite with their families. The launch of Operation Reunite with the Texas Veterinary Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation, Finding Rover, Petco Foundation and Adopt-a-Pet.com is an innovative program which helps reunite storm victims with their families through facial recognition technology, provides 45 days of foster care through partnerships with vet hospitals, and peer-to-peer fostering for animals. This is the first time in history that photos of “found” animals arriving at shelters will automatically be loaded into a database which will use facial recognition to continually search for a match.

September 3 - Today, Wyatt went home with his new family - the Chusslers. We are so glad that this shy, lovable canine found his forever home here in New Jersey following his long trip from Texas this past week! 

The John family couldn't wait to meet Rosco - the first dog off the plane from Texas who has been photographed by most everyone! This happy, energetic boy is all set for a new life with a great family!

Sweet Tanya left our shelter with the Gellers yesterday. This pretty pooch (below) can now officially call New Jersey her home and enjoy a new life with loving parents!

September 1 - The dogs who arrived at St. Hubert’s on August 29th are settling in. In preparation for adoption, neuter and spays are being performed, behavioral assessments evaluated and any medical issues addressed. The canines transported to Monmouth County SPCA, Father John’s Animal House, Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter and SPCA serving Erie County are being spayed/neutered and enjoying playtime in the sunshine. We are ready and waiting for the next emergency response call, and very willing to assist.

Today, Dr. Jesse Pazos volunteered in our clinic. Medical evaluations were performed on all of our dogs. Three of our Texas boys were neutered and Tanya was spayed. St. Hubert’s appreciates Dr. Pazos' dedication to our mission. Without her expertise which she has generously donated today, the adoption process would not be moving forward.

Click here to check out what other organizations are doing on the ground in Texas to help animals in need.

Thank you to all those organizations who are actively helping animals displaced by Hurricane Harvey:

ASPCA

Austin Humane Society

City of San Antonio Animal Care Services

Code 3 Associates

Houston SPCA

Houston SPCA Wildlife Center of Texas

Humane Society of the United States

Network for Animals

SPCA of Texas

To the following partners and foundations for their generosity - thank you! You are instrumental in the recovery efforts to save animal's lives. 

GreaterGood

Wings of Rescue

Petco Foundation

PetSmart Charities

Texas needs all of our support now!

Our sister shelters who partnered with us on taking in the dogs from Texas are:

·         Animal Alliance in Belle Mead, NJ - 1 dog

·         Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, NJ - 8 dogs

·         Father John’s Animal House in Lafayette, NJ - 8  dogs           

·         Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown, NJ - 9 dogs

·         Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, NJ - 7 dogs

·        Somerset County Animal Shelter in Bridgewater, NJ - 8 dogs

·         SPCA Serving Erie County in West Seneca, NY - 2 dogs

·         Voorhees Animal Orphanage in Voorhees, NJ - 1 dog

August 31- Watch the live video of St. Hubert's staff Tom and Adam as they arrive in The Zephyr with Thursday's transport of dogs transferring to The SPCA serving Eerie County and Toronto Humane Society as part of our efforts in assisting Texas. Thank you to our amazing shelter partners!

August 30- The dogs are settling in and enjoying love from staff and volunteers. Check out NJ.com's live feed from their visit with us this morning. Thank you to all of our supporters who have donated supplies and needed funds to help care for these amazing canines! 

August 29, 10:00 pm - The Wings of Rescue flight safely arrives in Morristown. Staff and volunteers were on the ground eagerly waiting to meet the dogs who made the long journey. Our CEO Heather Cammisa greeted the first pup to come off the plane, a sweet hound mix named Rosco. Many thanks to Morristown Airport and our dedicated destination partners who awaited the arrival with us. 

August 29, 7:30 pm- The precious cargo have left their refueling station in Tennessee and are in flight towards Morristown. Staff at our Madison Shelter are ready for their arrival- each dog has a fresh bed, water and a treat waiting for them! Our transport vehicles, The Zephyr and The Griffin, are prepped and ready to pick up the dogs for their 9:30-10:00 pm ETA. Four destination shelters will be picking up their dogs directly from the airport and the remaining will come to St. Hubert's in Madison. 

August 29, 5:20 pm - Flight Tracking Data tells us that 78 new furry friends from Texas are about one hour from their refueling stop in Tennessee. They will then continue on to Morristown Municipal Airport. St. Hubert's and several of our destination partners will be there to meet them.

Watch News 12 Coverage Here!

August 29- Early afternoon- San Antonio Animal Care Services personnel and HSUS responders get the dogs boarded on the Wings of Rescue flight headed to Morristown. 

August 28 - In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center mobilized its Sister Shelter WayStation transport program to welcome 78 shelter dogs from Texas to New Jersey on August 29th. The transport to Morristown Municipal Airport is the first animal flight to the Northeast from the area devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

“In cases like this, moving pets who were already in the shelter system helps provide capacity for animals displaced by the storm and keeps them close to home,” said Heather Cammisa, President and CEO of St. Hubert’s who founded the WayStation program. “Our hearts are with the people and animals of Texas, and we and our partners will continue to help in the days, weeks and months to come.” 

The airlift of dogs by Wings of Rescue from San Antonio Animal Care and Control was organized by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). St. Hubert’s will intake the canines to its Madison campus. Following a respite for meals and exercise, many of the dogs will transfer to partners along the northeast corridor.

“HSUS is working to help the people and pets devastated by Hurricane Harvey. We could not do this life-saving work without our placement partners and our rescue partners on the ground, “ said Kim Alboum, Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement Director for HSUS. “These pets are incredibly lucky to get a second chance through St. Hubert’s and their WayStation partners.”

Special Thanks to:

·        FreeKibble.com

·        GreaterGood.org

·         Wings of Rescue

The WayStation program is a coordination of 58 animal welfare organizations in the eastern U.S. to optimize capacity to address canine population disparity across regions and lend a hands-up to source communities. In the past year, the program has helped nearly 4,000 canines and provided more than $90,000 in funding for low-cost spay/neuter to the public in southern communities.

Transporting to the Future

Connecting places of opportunity with areas of need

By: Heather Cammisa, CAWA
President & CEO

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“Is it true y’all don’t have puppies in the North?”

Ten years ago, in a small, tidy shelter in one of the poorest areas of Mississippi, that was one of the first questions I heard. I was in Mississippi working on a project to assess the severity of the overpopulation issue, helping develop effective spay/neuter messaging and provide hands-up help in training, networking and some funds working on a project launched in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The shelter manager and the board president were both curious about the puppy question. I told them my take as a former shelter director from up North—that we do still have puppies, but that we’ve made great strides and have the capacity to help with dogs. I described what we felt had driven the progress in the Northeast—accessible spay/neuter efforts, effective animal control laws, a built-up humane infrastructure and more—and I found myself looking at two women with tears in their eyes. They couldn’t imagine a world without run after run of beautiful puppies, more than could ever be saved.

The Mississippi shelter had gotten offers of help from a group up North, but “we thought it was laboratories trying to get our animals,” the board president confessed.

Quantitative studies told the story: the deep South had more households with dogs, more dogs per household and far lower spay/neuter rates than the country overall and the Northeast in particular. Their laws weren’t as progressive, they didn’t have a statewide animal control association, there was a dearth of infrastructure in the region (one shelter might be the only shelter for hours in any direction), and regional climate and poverty were working against them. But hope filled their eyes when they heard that success was possible and space-based euthanasia was vanishing in regions where it was once the norm. I was privileged to share that message with more than four dozen shelters I visited in the deep South.

Fast forward 6 years. I’d become President /CEO at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey and we were a couple years into our “Sister Shelter” transport program that provides a hands-up to source shelters—specifically, for each dog we took in from our partner groups, we donated $50 back from the adoption fee to fund low-cost spay/neuter for their public. We provided educational opportunities, enrichment kits, onsite visits to share our behavior modification techniques and more.

Attending an HSUS Companion Animal Advisory Council meeting in early 2015. I was the only Mid-Atlantic representative and was invited to sit with another regional group. I sat down with the New England reps and asked them about a crazy rumor I’d heard—that they’d reached the point where they were transporting in cats. It was my version of “Y’all don’t have kittens in the North?” It was true. They explained that they had seen the tipping point coming, but even they were surprised how quickly it did.

Thus began St. Hubert’s Feline Pipeline program.  We increased the number of cats we picked up from all over New Jersey, prepped them and got them up to our New England friends. We’d become both a receiving state for dogs and a sending state for cats, giving us great insight and opportunity to see what was going on up and down the East Coast.

We should be celebrating this momentum of change and how far we’ve come. In the 1970s, the United States euthanized an estimated 100 dogs and cats per thousand humans—one dog or cat for every ten people. Today, based on most recent estimates from the ASPCA that figure is 5 dogs and cats per human thousand. From 100 to five. Even if you double the ASPCA’s estimate—and no group thinks it’s still that high—it’d still be one tenth of the euthanasia we were once performing.

We don’t talk about this enough, but it’s a new day. It’s time we focus on connecting the places of opportunity with the areas of need. It’s time to really put our collective shoulder behind ending the euthanasia of our healthy and treatable companion animals, mobilizing our movement via productive relationships and engaging in dialogue about what we can do TOGETHER to secure the win, putting in backstops (such as laws against puppy mills.)

The simple fact is the national groups can’t be everywhere. It’s up to us to help each other. One of the biggest obstacles to our own success is how unconnected we are with one another.

Starting with self-assessment, here’s what we’re doing at St. Hubert’s. In 2016, five years into our Sister Shelter program, we created an official Sister Shelter WayStation thanks to PetSmart Charities. As a former economist, it pained me to see shelters driving up and down the east coast for small numbers of dogs, knowing that with coordination on both ends, a single transport could move as many dogs much more efficiently. Airlines and big corporations all use similar hub models. So, we created one. We believe we’ve built something replicable that, if adopted in targeted areas, could cast a net over the nation as a whole.

In our first 11 months, our network grew to 31 source shelters, 27 destination shelters (us included) and transported more than 3,700 canines, provided $90,000 back to source communities for low-cost or free public spay/neuter, provided scholarships to five source shelters to Animal Care Expo 2017 and provided onsite training and enrichment supplies in four states. We’ve sponsored volunteer software for one agency, donated banks of caging in Kentucky to enable indoor housing for puppies and sent food, litter and supplies to many organizations. The program helps older dogs, animals with special needs and larger dogs as standard operating procedure, not just puppies.

Nothing illustrates the bigger picture impact than the organizations on both sides. Dr. Kim Sanders of Anderson PAWS in Anderson, South Carolina, used give-back funds to create a “Spay or Pay” program for stray reclaims—they waive all fees of reclaim if the owners allow their pets to be altered, at no charge. They also provide free spay as a surrender prevention tool. At Humphreys County Humane Society in Waverly, Tennesse, their special program alters pit bull types, using a lottery system. Humphreys County Humane Society president Ann Hunter wrote, “This program has allowed us to reach people that would not normally come to us for help … Thanks is just not enough for how you have helped us help the animals.” They included photos of some of the dogs and their people who utilized the spay/neuter program.

Some of the source shelters now act as secondary hubs, reaching out within their areas. That is absolutely a goal of the program.

Annie Guion, executive director at Windham County Humane Society in Vermont, describes how the network helps keep our community connected with one another and reminded of the growing divide in experiences, writing, “[The source shelters] are dealing with a situation that would crush a lot of us … Thank you for sharing the humanity of these amazing people … It is such a good reality check for us spoiled northerners.”

We treasure our source shelters. They help us as much as we help them. They trust us with their “babies” and with their staff, volunteers and community. They enable us to make an even bigger impact in mission, now and into the future.

Together we can expand our dialogues to include discussion about enacting needed laws, speaking up for wildlife, farm animals and against things like the circus coming to town. We can brainstorm about things like building public support for those 20-24 million much-loved pets that live in poverty and whether spay/neuter should be more targeted in order to put resources to optimal use. We can navigate issues of sustainability like the potential for effective mergers in our field, whether big new buildings are needed and how expanded community outreach efforts can be funded. There’s much we still need to work on together and the more mobilized we are, the better we’ll do it. We need to look to our roots of animal protection and prevention of cruelty, beyond companion animal adoption and response.

Transport alone is not how we’ll cross the finish line. It is a powerful catalyst for getting there faster if hands-up is considered obligate. Is there a better opportunity to deepen the ties with one another to respond to evolving opportunities and challenges in our cause than these types of networks? I can’t think of one.

Responses from
Animal Welfare Professionals... 

“Nailed it, Heather Cammisa. Transport is only a bandaid if source shelters don’t address the root cause of the obstacles that lead to the need - like lack of affordable s/n and pet retention programs. Destination shelters are at our best when we lend our expertise and funds to support the source organizations in their efforts to eliminate the need for transport by implementing programs mentioned in this blog. Heather, MHHS hears you and we’ll immediately step-up our efforts to provide a hand-up to all the transport partners we work with.”

— Todd Cramer

“Programs like this saved PAAS. We were designed as an adoption shelter in a rural, economically deprived area. Without transport, spay/neuter grants and HSUS Pets for Life we would be closed. Instead we’ve transferred 2,000 dogs to Dumb Friends League, received spay/neuter grants and changing the culture for pet ownership with pets for life. I’m a believer.”

— Kay Stout

“Brilliantly stated! from time to time our local NJ shelter has worked with St. Hubert’s taken in some of the Way Station animals and they are highly adoptable, wonderful animals that could have lost their lives were it not for this innovative program. Kudos to Heather and her team for making this successful program work so well for both sending and receiving shelters and most importantly, for the animals saved!”

— Anne Trinkle

“Having lived in the north for most of my life, I know the benefits of spay/neuter. Relocation to a state without strong animal care laws has been a real challenge. I help run a rural volunteer animal shelter. We could not have made it without the WayStation program and similar transport programs. Education is sorely needed in this area to stem the tide of animal births. Many people just don’t see the need for spaying or neutering their pets. The funds sent back to source shelters by St. Hubert’s are helping to stem the tide. I cannot say enough good things about St. Hubert’s for their WayStation program and PetSmart Charities for their grants to continue providing care to the many unwanted animals in this area.”

— Renee Fransway Nichols

“Equal collaboration, transparency, practical altruism and connection with a macro-level understanding of welfare and protection appear to guide the beginning development of what, as the representative of a source region and shelter, I hope will become the norm in transport practice. Thank you for this contribution.”

— Joanna Magee

“So true. In the North we have indeed largely solved, at least in the short term, canine over population and now see the result of similar spay/neuter efforts rippling in the feline community. I’ve long said “why shouldn’t those creatures travel North to communities that want to adopt them. It’s simply an accident of birth that a puppy arrived in the Deep South still coping with high euthanasia. But, were we really helping? Points to ponder at 2 a.m! Now as a newly active partner of the Waystation Programme knowing funds are being channeled back to those shelters and communities that surely need the help is the smart solution. Many hands-up will ultimately bring our partners south of the Mason-Dixon line to a place where they are not forced to operate as we used to in the 1970’s and 1980’s.”

— Marylee Gorham

“As the rescue coordinator for a source shelter, I can not express how big an impact the WayStation transport program has had on our small, rural shelter.
The funding, from our transport animals, is helping us realize our goal of 600 low cost spay/neuters. Our transports are always full. Our community is enthusiastic to take advantage of a cost effective way to alter their pets, if it is available to them.
The consistent transporting of the overflow of dogs out of our shelter has dramatically increased our live release percentage. We hope to continue to be able to participate in this program, and to help educate our community, to make the lives of our companion animals better.”

— Elain Brown

“As the director of a rural shelter, I can’t be more grateful for the 750 lives saved this year already through our partnerships with transports, including St. Hubert’s. In reality, that number is actually doubled, since every life saved on transport allows another one to be saved at the shelter. We have seen intake numbers decrease through our S.N.A.P. (Spay Neuter Assistance Program), but there is still a long road ahead of us. Working together is the only way to go!”

— Liz Sneed

“Well said! I love being part of a shelter that also partakes in being part of the solution. Only in working together can we continue to do great things!”

— Nanci McCabe-Keklak

“Loved this article and have shared around. Light at the end of the tunnel, not there yet but things are improving. I am volunteer cat trapper in New Orleans and our little group traps 25 cats a week and the Louisiana SPCA spays and neuters them. We ask people to pay something if they can. Many don’t pay a dime but shelter intake and EU is dropping. Lots of ear tipped cats out there but plenty more to go. Transport, spay neuter and education along with massive free or low cost spay neuter the answer to this nightmare. Very nice article...”

— Nita Fairley Hemeter

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!

Watch Now

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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.