Advocating for homeless and shelter animals
Hi! My name is FARROW and I’m currently residing at the Sammy’s Hope Animal Welfare & Adoption Center in Sayreville, New Jersey. As you can see, I’m a very handsome boy, and my volunteer friends here at the shelter tell me I’m also a very good boy!
On Monday evening January 13, 2020, the Township Council of Old Bridge, NJ heard a presentation from two gentlemen who are opening a Petland pet store in the township. Their presentation, complete with story boards and photos, extolled the “wonderful, humane and sanitary” conditions under which the breeders from which they’d source animals operate. They cited the approval of these “fine” breeders by the USDA and verified by inspections. Their descriptions of these breeders sounded as though the animals were living in the Ritz Carlton.
Well, they’re not.
And moments later, a virtual parade of public speakers testified that these breeders are in fact, inhumane prisons where animals are treated with unbelievable and painful cruelty, used as virtual machines to pump out puppies that are then sold to the unsuspecting public for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
To their credit, many of the opposing speakers said they assumed positive intent on the art of the proprietors, and that they not only did not oppose the opening of the store, but supported it. What they opposed was allowing the store to sell puppies that would almost certainly come from these cruel and inhumane breeders. Several said that they felt that the proprietors have been duped. We must agree. And this must not be allowed to go forward.
If you want to learn more about these cruel, greedy and inhumane breeders, take a gander here.
More contact information to express your opposition will soon be posted.
“As the little red dog lay on the ground, fighting for air, Quanis Phillips grabbed its front legs and Michael Vick grabbed its back legs. They swung the dog over their head like a jump rope then slammed it to the ground. The first impact didn’t kill it. So, Phillips and Vick slammed it again. The two men kept at it, alternating back and forth, pounding the creature against the ground until, at last, the little red dog was dead.”
–The Lost Dogs, by Jim Gorant
Let’s not forget what Vick said just outside the courtroom; “Yeah, fine, I killed the dogs. I hung them. I slammed them. I killed all of them. I lost fucking millions, all over some fucking dogs.”
Angry comments about Vick are legitimate understood given the nature of his horrible, cruel and evil crimes, but instead let the NFL know that you don’t want an animal abuser glorified. Vick is EVIL.
Sammy’s Hope Animal Rescue and Adoption Center in Sayreville, New Jersey has begun its annual Donor Match Fundraiser! This is our largest and most important effort, allowing us to provide love, medical care, enrichment and socialization to homeless dogs and cats while we work to provide them forever homes.
If we can reach our $25,000 goal by December 31, our wonderful anonymous donors will match it with their own money. All donations are tax deductible and may be made online at www.sammyshope.org/donate or by check, mailed to: Sammy’s Hope P.O. Box 7281, North Brunswick, NJ 08902. Please share and spread the word to help us reach our goal! #ThankYou #SammysHopeLove
With millions of homeless animals and tens of thousands being killed (euthanized, the euphemism ) daily for lack of shelter space, there is no place in a decent, humane society for any puppy mill, ever. None.
How could anyone (allegedly) leave three pups to die a miserable death of starvation and dehydration and then smile? It’s almost unbelievable. Almost.
JOINT PRESS RELEASE-TOMS RIVER WOMAN CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Lacey Township Police Chief Michael DiBella announced today that Allissa DeStefano, 29, of Toms River, has been arrested and charged with three counts of Animal Cruelty in violation of N.J.S.A. 4:22-17c(2).
During the evening hours of November 11, 2019, the Lacey Township Police Department responded to a residence in Lacey Township for a report that dogs had possibly been abandoned in the residence. Upon arrival, the officers determined that the house was indeed abandoned, and the remains of three dogs were discovered. An investigation by Detectives from the Lacey Township Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that DeStefano was responsible for the care of the dogs and had abandonded them in the residence, which resulted in their deaths. DeStefano was arrested without incident, and processed at the Lacey Township Police Department. She was released on a Summons pending a future court date.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief DiBella extend their gratitude to the Lacey Township Police Department and Detective Bureau as well as Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for their fine cooperative work in connection with this investigation.
The public and the media are reminded that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lacey Township PD
Island Animal Alliance (@islandanimalalliance) https://www.facebook.com/Islandanimalalliance/, led by long-time animal advocate and rescuer Niki Dawson, rescues and transports hurricane-survivor dogs–primarily from Puerto Rico–to rescues in the USA. I was privileged to drive 29 of those pups recently from Miami to Bridgewater, NJ, where they were taken by rescues from #vermont and #essexcountyNJ to new, happy, and loving homes. Please follow us on #Facebook and help us with donations if you can! https://bit.ly/2pLQSWM
Mostly behind the scenes and without a scintilla of fanfare, the Island Animal Alliance continues quietly rescuing pups from Puerto Rico, still storm-ravaged by Hurricane Maria. Let’s remember that Puerto Rico is an American territory, and its people American citizens. You can see the organizer of the IAA, Niki Dawson, doing a transport of pups all the way to New Jersey from (Miami?). She and her team have worked tirelessly there for months!
If you care about homeless, sick and abandoned animals, and inclined to help this worthy group continue its work, visit their GoFundMe page and make whatever donation you can. Thanks!
The Associated Humane Societies-Newark Shelter, which has a number of municipal animal control contracts including one with the the city of Newark, is in an extended battle with the city over alleged non-payment of monthly fees. Keep in mind that AHS Newark has been cited over and over again for filthy and unsanitary conditions and even illegal and abusive practices.
I don’t know which side is right–I tend to believe the city given the abysmal and even horrific history of the shelter–but this is yet another example of how the shelter system in New Jersey is broken and needs a complete overhaul. While Newark and the shelter battle it out, the animals suffer
New Jersey attorney Dante Di Pirro, who has a long record representing the interests of homeless and abused animals and opposing animal shelter operators who flout the law, has put the Hamilton NJ Municipal Shelter on notice. He’s sent them a litter promising a class-action lawsuit unless they stop euthanizing–killing–owner surrendered animals before the mandatory hold period, during which the animals must be offered for adoption.
Di Pirro notes that statements made at the recent Hamilton Township council meeting by Shelter representatives show that “they are aware of the law, refuse to follow the express and unambiguous language of the statute, and fail to comply with their non-discretionary, mandatory duty to offer each such animal for adoption for at least seven days.”
Good on you Dante!
His letter to the Mayor and Council can be found HERE.