Disaster has struck at RBARI, and we need YOUR help!
Four Hoarding Cases, Forty-Five Dogs and Cats, in less than 5 months
Oakland, N.J., June 13, 2016 – Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc, has rescued 45 cats and dogs in four separate hoarding cases over the last five months. This has left our refuge overflowing with cats and dogs hoping to find their forever homes. We are hoping the public can help us by adopting some of these lovely cats and dogs today.
When we think of a disaster, we typically think of something out of our control – a flood, hurricane, fire. But what about when disaster strikes at the hands of those people entrusted with innocent lives? This year has been a difficult one at the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. (RBARI) because we have encountered so many senseless and preventable disasters. There isn’t really time to ponder “why” most of the time, so we just act. We save as many lives as possible, and we don’t give up until we know that we have done everything we can.
RBARI is known as the leading no-kill shelter in Bergen County for good reason. RBARI is the only shelter that helped in four separate large scale hoarding cases this year. Most recently, RBARI intervened to help with two major hoarding cases, in taking a total of 16 dogs. The first case was in Howell, New Jersey, where 276 dogs were rescued from a home, including puppies, pregnant dogs and mother dogs that were literally giving birth during rescue. This was the largest hoarding case we have ever seen in New Jersey, so we had to help. RBARI took in twelve dogs, all filthy, flea infested and with tapeworms. One dog had an infected head wound, one had a hernia, one was chewing at his infected skin from allergies and one had a severe ear infection causing neurologic symptoms. Two of the dogs were immediately hospitalized due to medical emergencies. None of the dogs know how to walk on leash, and likely never knew the feeling of grass under their feet until they came to the safety of RBARI.
Before the rescue community could catch their breath, two days later another hoarding case broke with 47 dogs being rescued from a Hopatcong, New Jersey home. All of the dogs were filthy and scared, many covered in infected bite wounds from fighting. It was in Hopatcong that we met Bubba. He was hiding in a corner, terrified and hoping that no one would notice him. A RBARI staff member saw this sweet boy and immediately wrapped him up in her arms. At that moment, Bubba let out a sigh of relief, as his nightmare was over and his happily ever after just beginning. Today, Bubba is all smiles with his friend, Jenny, also rescued from Hopatcong, both waiting for their forever home to find them.
These rescues come in the wake of two other hoarding rescues. After a call for help, RBARI staff searched a home packed floor to ceiling with belongings in Woodcliff Lake over the course of a month to trap and rescue 16 cats hidden among the belongings. Many of these cats remained elusive to capture for weeks, but RBARI staff never gave up. They visited again and again with various types of traps and tools including thermal imaging goggles, until all 16 were rescued. Many of these cats are still seeking their forever homes and are living at RBARI.
Just prior, RBARI was hands on at the site of a hoarding crisis in North Bergen, where 50 plus dogs and cats were in desperate need of immediate rescue. The rescuers were met with the cries of puppies and adults in need, as well as cats trapped on the roof in freezing temperatures. RBARI took in 13 cats and dogs that day. The dogs had to be carried out to transport vehicles, as they were terrified never having walked on leash or even on grass before. The cats had to be trapped and rescued from the rooftop terrified.
RBARI’s tiny shelter and foster network has physical limitations, but our capacity to love these sweet rescued dogs and cats is endless, so we continued to help knowing that we are stretched to our limits, but having faith that our RBARI family would help us through.
Now that the dust is beginning to settle, we need your help. At RBARI, “HELP US SAVE MORE LIVES” is not simply a slogan, it is our commitment to the animals we serve. 2016 has truly been a year of action at RBARI. We are making a state-wide impact with the amazing rescues we are undertaking and assisting. But, the medical care, daily care and special needs of these rescued dogs and cats are overwhelming. Please join us along this journey by supporting these rescues by making a donation to The Betty Lou Fund at www.rbari.org/donate/betty-lou-fund/. Together, we can make amazing things happen.
*Operating as the leading no-kill animal shelter in Bergen County, NJ, Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit serving all of Northern New Jersey. It is the leading no-kill animal shelter in Bergen County whose primary mission is to SAVE MORE LIVES. Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. is founded on the belief that all animals have a natural right to humane treatment including proper care and safe shelter. Please help us save more lives today.