Bloomfield Cat Shelter Launches Fundraiser, Plans Move To Clifton

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Homeless Animal Adoption League (HAAL) needs your help, Bloomfield animal lovers.

The “no-kill, all volunteer” nonprofit cat shelter – which rescues, rehabilitates and finds loving adoptive families for felines in New Jersey – is in the midst of running a fundraiser to acquire the cash to complete construction and purchase equipment for a new location, according to a news release.

The organization has been renting a space in Bloomfield for over the last 15 years. But for an animal welfare organization, renting comes with many risks including the chance of evicted if the landlord wants to rent the retail space out to a client that would be able to pay a higher amount, shelter staff stated.

“We have been lucky so far over the last 15 years, as it has never come to this, but it is always a thought in our mind,” HAAL staff stated. “Without a space, our rescued cats would be homeless once again… Our current rental lease is ending soon, and we will be on a month-to-month basis which leaves us with absolutely no protection.”

Thankfully, a “special donor” helped the group purchase a building in Clifton, and the nonprofit has received approval from Clifton town officials to move to the new “permanent home” from its current space in Bloomfield, HAAL staff said.

The group has since launched an online fundraising in support of the move. See the campaign here.

“This move will allow us to better serve the cats we rescue and rehabilitate, and this will hopefully open door to more volunteers and adoptions,” HAAL staff wrote. “Though we were graved with a building, we are responsible to the necessary repairs and modifications to bring the building up to code and to make sure it is a suitable environment for the cats, volunteers, and visitors. As with any construction it is painstakingly difficult to not only pay for the initial expenses; architect, demolition crew, electrician, plumber, HVAC technicians, etc., but all of the red tape and surprise issues that are discovered along the way.”

According to HAAL staff, the group doesn’t, receive any government funds and operates through donations, adoptions and fundraisers.

Photo: Flickr Commons

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