Month: June 2017

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Yet Another Hoarding in New Jersey – Following Many Others

I don’t know if animal hoarding is more or less frequent in New Jersey than in other states, and I’m going to research that.  It is distrubing, however, and the animals suffer terribly — and many times, die a terrible death.  Oftentimes the properties where the animals are, are caked with excrement and filth to the point at which rescuers have to wear hazmat suits.  I’m going to talk to some experts for a future post, and in the meantime, here is the story of the latest hoarding tragedy.

Sadly, this is just the latest instance of hoarding, and NJ.COM has a summary of recent NJ caes here.

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Is the NJSPCA Really Helping Animals?

There’s a lot of controversy swirling around the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) these days, much of which began last fall when the organization revealed that it had lost its charitable status for failing to file the required federal form 990, for three years in a row. The leadership of the NJSPCA attributed the problem to an accountant who had a stroke. Having attracted the public’s attention, media outlets, including Walt Kane at News12 New Jersey, and Caren Chesler at NJ Spotlight, have covered these issues extensively.

Below are links to these news stories. You can judge for yourself whether or not this organization, as it is currently constituted, has legitimate oversight by the State of New Jersey, and whether or not it is genuinely serving the cause of animal welfare and fighting animal abuse.

NEWS 12 NJ:

Kane In Your Corner: NJSPCA Under Investigation by state agencies

Kane In Your Corner: NJSPCA law enforcement practices questioned

Kane In Your Corner: NJSPCA no-bid contracts questioned

Kane In Your Corner: NJSCPA refusing to show invoices for legal fees

 

NJ SPOTLIGHT:

Continued Trouble Dogs Troubled Agency Charged with Protecting Animals

Are Guns and Police Cars the Best Way to Prevent Cruelty to Animals in NJ?

Dubious Financial Dealings at NJ Agency Tasked with Protecting Animals

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Hello New Jersey Animal Lovers

This blog is for all New Jerseyites who care about, and care for, animals. It is dedicated to the many wonderful “animal people” I have met over the last five years – Niki Dawson, Elda Hubbard and all my colleagues at Sammy’s Hope, Kristen Padden, Heather Campione, Kathleen Schatzmann, everyone at Best Friends Animal Society and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, The ASPCA Fearful Dog program, Michelle Merletto Cilurso, Tracy Rolph, and dozens of others.

I am not allowing comments because that will lend itself to invective and vitriol which will not help homeless and innocent animals.  I will post news items and on occasion, opinion, that I believe will contribute to improving the welfare of homeless animals.  It will also shine a light on issues and organizations — such as NJSPCA — that need to be examined.

There is no shortage of people in NJ who care about animals.  I meet them every day.  But the laws are too weak, the shelter system is mostly broken, and euthanasia is far too often the fate of innocent animals whose only crime was being brought into this world.

If you care, then DO something: volunteer, donate, foster, attend a fundraiser, but most of all: spay or neuter your  pets and ADOPT from your local shelter.