Montclair Township Animal Shelter Is Doing Amazing Work!

Even as Patch was celebrating a big milestone today — the launch of its 100th site — it also was rolling out a program to get every employee more involved in serving their communities through the company's Give5 program.Through the program, Montclair Patch employees will help out at local charities at least five times a year — if not a lot more. On Tuesday, the Montclair Patch editor and her two children signed up to help out at the Montclair Township Animal Shelter. What amazing work is done here!

Indeed, the Montclair Township Animal Shelter is alive and well and open for business! The current residents waiting for loving homes include eight dogs, approximately 90 cats, and three rabbits. The dedicated and friendly staff of five always have something going on, whether it's processing adoptions, animal rescue, caring for the shelter's many residents, or transporting wildlife to various rehabilitation sanctuaries. The hectic schedule means that the shelter is always happy to have volunteers! The following are a variety of opportunities where volunteer help would be greatly appreciated.

1. Volunteering at the shelter for adults or kids.

MTAS is one of the few local shelters that offer a volunteer program for ages 10 and up. It is a great opportunity for kids without pets to see what is involved in their caretaking, as well as to spend time with animals. Of course, for those kids with pets who can't get enough, this is a chance to make a lot more friends. Kids can help with feeding, light cleaning, off-site pet adoption days and of course, very important (and fun!) animal socialization time. Children are required to attend a scheduled orientation session (with a parent or caretaker) before they may volunteer.

So far, mandatory orientations are scheduled for August 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. and August 25 from 4 to 5 p.m. at 77 North Willow Street. For more information, get in touch with Lynn Gaeta, Volunteer Coordinator at 973-744-8600 or mtas77@verizon.net. If no one can get to the phone, please leave a message — they are checked regularly.

For adults, in addition to the above jobs, there is a really great need for dog walking, especially during the week. If possible, an hour spent walking the dogs is one of the best things that can be done for them. It really helps keep their spirits up, provides some exercise and socialization, and minimizes boredom and frustration.

2. Adoption promotion.

From distributing flyers for upcoming events to working at off-site adoption days (Petco, Petsmart, Farmer's Markets), you can be an important part of finding homes for these animals. In addition, the shelter plans to begin orientation meetings to train adults in adoption counseling. This will be a big help during busy weekends, providing more people to talk to potential adoptors and introduce them to the animals that they think would be a good match.

3. Foster homes

While the shelter provides the best care possible, it is always wonderful for an animal to be able to live in a foster home while they are waiting for adoption. The shelter will provide food and the animals are listed on Petfinder. Animals in foster homes can also be brought to adoption events.

4. Wildlife transport

Frequently the shelter rescues wild animals — most recently five baby skunks and a Red-tailed Hawk. These animals are taken to sanctuaries for rehabilitation. Transportation can be very time consuming for the staff when there is so much to be done at the shelter on a daily basis, so any volunteers for this would be much appreciated. Some of the sanctuaries include: The Raptor Trust (Basking Ridge); Woodlands Wildlife Center (Pittstown); South Mountain rehabilitation at nearby South Mountain Reservation; and the Mercer County Wildlife Center.

5. Donations

Helping the shelter can be as simple as donating linens, towels, blankets, comforters (used as bedding for the animals); cat and dog toys; newspapers; low cardboard boxes (used as litter trays), and canned cat and dog food.

6. Internet

The shelter is looking toward promoting adoption through the internet in the form of animals being listed on personal blogs or being put on Facebook pages. Also, there is an opportunity for volunteers to maintain the shelter's current social networking sites. Please contact Melissa Neiss at 973-744-8600 or email mtas77@verizon.net.

7. Healing

More often than not, the animals that come into the shelter have experienced some sort of trauma (straying, abuse, neglect). Also, for animals that have been surrendered by their owners for financial or other reasons, the shelter can be a frightening place, at first. The shelter welcomes anyone who practices alternative healing therapies such as Tellington Touch; Reiki; massage; aromatherapy, and holistic medicine. These methods have proven to be effective and valuable additions to the usual socialization process of playing, holding quietly, gentle petting, and a soft, kind voice.

8. ADOPT!

You've heard it before and seen it on bumper stickers: "Don't shop, adopt!" Animals end up in shelters for so many different reasons, not just because of "problem behavior". Pets are often surrendered for grave economic situations, or for the astonishing reason that they have simply become "inconvenient". For some it's allergies, for others it's that the owner realizes that they just don't have enough time to give the animal a decent life. Whatever the reason, there are some great dogs and cats available! Also, if you would rather skip the puppy or kittenhood stage, there are many young adult or adult animals available to make the perfect companion.

If you think you can help the shelter with any of the above, it would make a huge difference in all respects, and help these many beautiful animals as they wait for a new and loving caretaker to come into their lives.

Montclair Township Animal Shelter

77 North Willow Street

Montclair, NJ 07042

973-744-8600

mtas77@verizon.net

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NJ589.html

Public Hours:

Monday: By appointment only

Tuesday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday: By appointment only

Friday: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.