Jersey Animal Coalition Animals Losing Their Home archived

Thanks for organizing the fundraiser. Good luck!

Does this mean the JAC is closing? I know there is a JAC thread, but it is huge and I can't get thru all of it on my phone!

Yes, the JAC is closing. Please don't read that other thread.

Please don't read that other thread if you're not interested in learning how the JAC got itself shut, provoked an endless series of comments recounting bad experiences at the JAC, failed its animals and the community, and finds itself in the position of needing extraordinary efforts from its dedicated volunteers to clean up the mess and save the remaining animals.

At this point there's no reason to read any of that.

Correct. There isn't.

Good riddance and please keep milking the childless with third rate Kickstarter scams. Bye!

Good riddance

I can't help but wonder what will ultimately happen with that building. What a colossal and shameful waste.

crabwalk said:

Good riddance and please keep milking the childless with third rate Kickstarter scams. Bye!

This is completely uncalled for and inappropriate

Thank you sarahzm. I understand how many people feel about the shelter, however, its about the animals now that need homes. They are the innocent victims here. We volunteers just want to help them anyway we can. I assure you this money we are raising it to do that only. You can go see my previous fundraiser on gofundme for Freckles, who is now in a loving home after three years living in a crate.

If it is all about the animals, why didn't JAC accept earlier offers from other shelters/rescues to take animals JAC still had in residence immediately after their most recent prior closing? Has anyone checked to see if any of those offers are still on the table? If so, how many animals have been placed in that manner?

This^^^

This could have been avoided and JAC management is culpable, but please have compassion for volunteers such as Beth who were not responsible for the decisions that led to the ultimate fate of the shelter or the protracted legal battle. The decisions not to take previous offers of placement were likely made by the individual at the top who consistently blocked change, progress and addressing the need for improved conditions at the shelter.

The volunteers are doing what they can to accommodate the timelines for vacancy and working to place and feed the remaining animals so that when vacancy is required the animals aren't sent to definitely be killed.
Please also know that other shelters/rescues are admittedly selective and do not always take "hard cases" to ensure that they have adoptable populations and not permanent residents. Agreed that volunteers should see if other organizations can take the remaining pets, but it is possible that some of those left are harder to place. It can take about $5,000 to send a dog to a reputable sanctuary.

While I may not be inclined to give money without assurance that Ruthless can't get her hands on it, I don't want to see the kitties thrown out with the kitty litter either.

@kthnry - If you truly cared about the animals you would not put your ego first. it is apparent that you are hijacking viewers from the JAC Quarantine blog with your sad attempts at self congratulations witnessed by the vomitous pictures on the past two pages and this post you sent to someone - see below.....you need to grow up.

You have a short memory of how you were treated by Big D when you were fostering those pups. They came to confiscate those puppies from you, treated you very badly and now you try to keep other people from seeing all the truth about JAC and all those dastardly deeds they have done? I just don't get why you feel the need to sugarcoat anything about them?? Why??

The shelter is closing very soon. anyone, anywhere who can read any blog about this terrible situation and be informed and get the word out to help is crucial to helping the souls left behind by the long absent Shelter director who has left the inmates to run the asylum. What a sad, egotistical thing to do. shame on you!

There is no vet tech on board. no one to administer medicine to a very sick dog in their 'care'. Another dog has died in the past two weeks and you waste your time diverting people to your own interests. SHAME ON YOU @kthnry for putting your own or your friend's interests first.

pastrez said:

Please don't read that other thread if you're not interested in learning how the JAC got itself shut, provoked an endless series of comments recounting bad experiences at the JAC, failed its animals and the community, and finds itself in the position of needing extraordinary efforts from its dedicated volunteers to clean up the mess and save the remaining animals.

At this point there's no reason to read any of that.

@Pastrez thank you. some people prefer to be in denial. do they not realize this crap is still going on.
the shelter director has basically abandoned operations and left the volunteers to scramble to gather funds to get these animals out. the ones who have been able to get this done deserve much congratulations because they have faced huge obstacles and a director who has her hand out asking for the exit $$.

@callista - grab a cup of coffee or a beer and some popcorn and read that 'other' blog. it is a real eye opener. perhaps you can do it when in front of a desktop computer. I cannot understand why someone would tell you NOT to read it. The truth is brutal but if we deny the past we are doomed to repeat it. and we can NEVER let this happen again.

chocolatechip said:

The truth is brutal but if we deny the past we are doomed to repeat it. and we can NEVER let this happen again.

Such a terrible diaspora of these fine animals, all due to the relentless march of Ruth's JACboots.

And just when the sh*t hit the fan legally, what is amazing is that Ruthless went on vacation, or just ran away while she should have been home overseeing the last days of the animals she "LOVES"

Which furbabies you ask? The ones she never allowed to be sent to sanctuary on money raised by volunteers (she wanted the money) and @ondare, if she know there is that kind of money around now - she will not allow it to be used for that purpose; The ones she didn't allow to have the opportunity to go to other shelters on the chances they would get adopted out because she wanted the fee (yes,she wanted the money); The 3 who have died in the last 3 or 4 months from not getting the proper medical care or living no life in a cage (she wanted the money). She has blamed everyne else in the world for the problems and saddness she and Doreen created.

Hopefully the NJSPCA will step in and take the rest of the dogs/cats before they die there as well. It is unfortunate that Pastrz couldn't get the 2 biggest rats out of there before they infected everyone and everything else. :-D

I just wish Ruth would 'man-up' and keep her legacy intact instead of running away and forcing those volunteers left (who haven't been banned) to BEG for things to keep the animals fed, safe and alive.. Stay home!!! Spend the damned money (and that HUGE amount willed to JAC) to feed and get litter for the babies.... spend money getting part time people in to walk and water and comfort those still stuck there. And for god's sake - don't let Ruth take the money again

@Jasper, the building will remain a worthless shell because instead of making the healthy and legal stated in the violations - she just slapped paint on the pig - to SAVE MONEY. When she walks I an assuming what is left will be a worthless shell that belongs to the town, as does the land

And ya know what folks? There are people who have spent years volunteering, donating money and supplies, who are VERY angry by what has happened. They are angry because they too love the animals, they are angry because if they had been listened to, things may be different now. They have a right to a voice. Whatever they want to say is not uncalled for nor inappropriate.

Thanks for the memories Ruthless and that D person, who does not even deserve having her name mentioned again. You have blown up your legacy by short-cuts, deafness to those who care, and sneaking around with legal maneuvers that did nothing but waste more time (or maybe set you up for something in the future since rumor is Strazzi's isn't being paid) - oh wait, you didn't pay the vets or vet techs timely either. Oh, wait again..... you didn't even sign the agreement you agreed to in principal to leave the shelter as long as all penalties etc are waived

I am totally disgusted

wondering if the building could be used by the county for housing drug and bomb detector dogs? Who owns the building to network its re-purposing?

Misleading headlines - JAC SCRAMBLES TO PLACE ANIMALS....NO, NOT TRUE....DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS SCRAMBLE TO PLACE ANIMALS WHILE OTHERS GO ON HOLIDAY.
Read between the lines. delay ...delay...delay....If they had been dealing with these issues honestly the past five months. these animals would not now be trapped in a deadline game being played out in the courts. blackmail to the town...you drop all charges and let us walk away unscathed and we will withdraw our lawsuit. In the meantime NO ONE is going in there to check on the dogs and cats. Charles, another dog died two weeks ago..was it mentioned on their FB page?

But $$ still has her hand out making the demand of adoption fees before the papers will be signed to let them go. while the volunteers scurry and beg and work so hard to save the ones left behind.

If the group has 501(3c) certification, make the check out to them and trust that the money will go to placing the animals. If a part of it has to go to the adoption fee demanded by $$ so be it...a small price to pay to save the animals.

http://villagegreennj.com/towns/government/deadline-looms-jac-scrambles-place-animals/

new207040 said:

wondering if the building could be used by the county for housing drug and bomb detector dogs? Who owns the building to network its re-purposing?

I believe the county has a kennel right up the road at the corner of South Orange Ave and Brookside Drive. I've never been there, but driving by it would appear that each dog has individual access to an outside kennel, a much better set up for the dogs than what is available at the JAC building.

How about making it the new Rescue Squad. Convert the existing building to living quarters, build a three bay garage and you are all set. No need to spend the full $1MM the developer gave them, no need to clear trees like Torpey originally wanted, and no need to force the Squad into debt building something that will cost more than they have.

Have said it long before this all went down, but I really wouldn't be surprised if they were shut down adn the JAC used to cure some of the ills with the DPW space. We shall see.

scottgreenstone said:

How about making it the new Rescue Squad. Convert the existing building to living quarters, build a three bay garage and you are all set. No need to spend the full $1MM the developer gave them, no need to clear trees like Torpey originally wanted, and no need to force the Squad into debt building something that will cost more than they have.

Fantastic idea, getting to a main road is a bit tough but workable?

It is next to the original location that the neighbors refused becuase Torpey wanted to tear down all the trees on the corner and the residents didnt want that

@Diva. I agree with most of what you have said, but NJSPCA has been derelict in its duties during the entire fiasco. Many of us who have commented on the other thread (which everyone should read) have reached out to them directly and received empty promises regarding their intervention. I am not expecting them to step in now. I am not expecting R&D to do anything either, and agree with you regarding the potential for a money grab, as I doubt monies were ever used exactly as they should have been. But unless the volunteers step in to get the shelter emptied, what is supposed to happen? Two animals have died previous to the most recent and both were reported directly to NJSPCA and they "were investigating." What? NJSPCA needs a third death to step in? I am convinced they will do nothing. So it's at least volunteers trying, or just leave all the rest to rot and die, because apparently no one else's but those volunteers are at least trying to empty the shelter. The ruling was clear that the shelter had to show a good faith effort to empty the place in 30 days. If the volunteers want to do it, God bless them, because the state agency that is suppose to do SOMETHING has done NOTHING and we know we can't rely on R&D. What exactly are the choices at this point?

Thanks onadare. You seem to understand what we volunteers are trying to convey and why we reached out. I have read the entire 'Quarantine' thread. One common theme seems to be caring about the animals. If this is true, then all we are asking for is some help for them. If people are too mistrusting to send money to a verified non profit helping the animals, I understand. How about just coming to meet them and give them a loving home? Despite what some have posted, we still have many adoptable animals here at JAC, so if you know of anyone looking to adopt, sent them my way. I will be happy to meet them and introduce them to an appropriate animal for their home. Ask some of my recent very happy customers, like Freckles and Bethel's families. Oh yes and by the way, another dog Moose went to a home today. That is what this is all about.

I don't understand how people could still be volunteering at this place after all the abuse mngmt has put the animals and it's volunteers through. Gluttons

It's simple Retan. You do it for the animals. You feel guilty if you don't go because they won't get a walk and love for the day. It's called selflessness not gluttons. It's called volunteering whether for animals or people. You might want to try it then you will understand.

@Retan - if we followed that philosophy of leaving because of the abuse. then the animals would be truly abandoned and they would all die a slow, painful death. Some volunteers have left and gone on to other shelters to help. Some were thrown out because they spoke up against the horrid conditions. Stronger ones have stayed and weathered the verbal abuse and horrible mismanagement at JAC.

The animals have no voice and we speak for them. I can personally vouch, unsolicited, for the integrity of Mattie's Friends, named in honor of a long suffering shelter dog who finally was rehomed into a wonderful loving place through the volunteer's efforts. Although the Shelter management will bleed every last dollar they can for the remaining animals, they will not get a penny more than the adoption fee, which, last year was anywhere from $275-$325 for a dog and would be paid by the people adopting the animal. And if JAC gets greedier and demands more than that I hope that gets exposed quickly.

The Mattie's Friends money in the fund goes for retraining dogs left too long in cages, medicating sick ones, paying for transport to new homes, funding dogs who are accepted into a Rescue to live out their lives in big open fields and other dogs to play with.

In a perfect world, JAC would accept the blame they deserve and opt to mend their ways by opening the doors and allowing all the animals out without adoption fees instead of putting up roadblocks with their money thirsty demands of fees. Many of those dogs would have been gone by now had the MisManagers not, in their twisted, flawed reasoning refused to let some of the dogs go to sanctuary earlier on. And, to other shelters that had offered to take the dogs in.

That said, some people will never understand Animal Rescue...some people say they could never visit a shelter because they don't want to see the sadness..But the ones who do devote themselves to rescue, foster and adoption are rewarded in ways beyond measure in earthly terms. So leave it to those who do, and reach in to your pocket and help us do the good deed for those who cannot.