West Orange Mayor Responds To Concerns About Animal Shelter

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange’s mayor shared some key statistics – and future plans – for the town’s animal shelter in a detailed statement on Wednesday.

Robert Parisi was responding to concerns recently expressed on social media, which included questions about the Alex Caprio Animal Control Facility’s adoption/euthanasia policies, conditions at the shelter, the effects of COVID-19 isolation and claims that animal control officials “don’t care” about the dogs and cats in their custody, which he said were incorrect.

Here are some of the topics that the mayor touched upon in his post.

SHELTER STATS

Parisi released a summary of activity at the shelter in 2021. He wrote:

“36 dogs have been impounded for various reasons. Of those impounded, 34 were dogs and two were puppies. As of Jan. 1, 2021, six dogs remained impounded from the previous year (2020) and zero dogs have been euthanized.”

Of the 42 dogs that have been in the shelter in 2021:

• 26 (24 dogs/two puppies) have been redeemed (meaning picked up by owners)
• 7 dogs have been adopted
• 3 dogs were transferred to rescues
• 6 dogs remain in the shelter

The mayor also shared statistics for cats in 2021. He wrote:

“29 cats [were] impounded. Of those impounded, 15 were adult cats and 14 were kittens. As of Jan. 1, 2021, two cats remained impounded from the previous year (2020).”

Of the 31 cats that have been in the shelter in 2021:

• 1 cat has been redeemed
• 11 cats have been adopted
• 2 cats have been transferred to the West Orange TNVR program
• 3 cats were transferred to rescues
• 3 cats have been euthanized (2 cats and 1 kitten)
• 4 cats have died while in the shelter (3 cats and 1 kitten)
• 5 cats remain in the shelter / 2 kittens remain in the shelter

The 2021 statistics reported by Parisi are generally similar to previous years.

According to the Alex Caprio Animal Control Facility’s 2017 Shelter/Pound Annual Report with the state, it’s overall capacity was 10 dogs, 27 cats and three “other” animals. That year, the shelter took in 51 dogs, 71 cats and three unspecified animals. In all, 46 dogs and 46 cats were either adopted out or reclaimed by their owners; 7 dogs and 11 cats were euthanized.

• See related article: Life, Death and Adoption At The West Orange Animal Shelter

EUTHANIZING, VET CARE

“Though the law does allow the township to euthanize animals that have not been redeemed or adopted within a certain number of days, we do not,” Parisi emphasized.

According to the mayor, animals are only euthanized if they come to the shelter seriously injured, sick or overly feral. The three euthanized cats in 2021 each fit those categories, including the kitten, which was “significantly injured,” he said.

“The township does routinely seek veterinarian care for animals but in these examples, they were beyond reasonable care,” Parisi said. “Similarly, the cats that died came to the shelter with both injuries and illnesses and died while sheltering there.”

CARING FOR THE ANIMALS

Parisi also responded to some online questions about the level of care that animal control workers at the shelter are providing.

“Making claims that the animal control officials do not care about the animals or the township is heartless, remains baseless and unfounded – and unfortunate – as it publicly criticizes people that have made it their career to care for animals,” he said.

The mayor continued:

“Besides the care and attention they give the animals, it is not realistic to think they would assume this position if they did not. I recognize the importance of the passion that many residents have for animals but that does not provide them a monopoly alone on caring. The animal control officers have over 25 combined years’ experience in these positions with this community and the township has never received a complaint of their care or treatment of the animals that come to the shelter. I am sure that there are days when they could be better at their jobs, as I am equally sure each of our bosses would say the same about us, but claims of anything more about these two employees are unwarranted and do nothing to help the process or address the concerns that have been raised by the community.”

ADOPTION EFFORTS

As for adoption efforts at the shelter, here’s what Parisi had to say:

“The township hopes to never receive animals to the shelter as the best possible circumstance would be for dogs or cats to never be abandoned or left there anonymously tied to the fence or doorknob as often is the case. We know that even one day without a home is too many and we do the best we can to find them homes or better circumstances as quickly as possible but animals are cared for every day, seven days a week, and taken outside several times a day. The township and Animal Welfare League posts weekly updates to various social medial platforms on all available dogs or cats in the shelter. Additionally, they are placed on PetFinder and the township works with various rescue groups in hopes of having them take animals from our facility that are not adoptable or those we haven’t had success in having adopted. Larger, in person adoption events, will resume in the near future.”

See some animals available for adoption in West Orange here. Read More: Adoptable Pets Of The Week At West Orange Area Shelters

OTHER SHELTERS, FUTURE PLANS

“The hope is to always be our best, in everything we do, but the point that at least West Orange has a shelter should not be lost on this discussion,” Parisi continued.

According to the mayor, out of all “neighboring communities,” only West Orange, East Orange, Livingston and Montclair have their own animal shelters. Orange, South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland and Verona do not; Newark currently contracts with one of the state’s largest shelter systems, the Associated Humane Societies.

It’s common for municipalities to share services when it comes to sheltering animals. In 2017, the West Orange shelter held animal control service and impounding contracts with Essex Fells and Roseland. It also performed holding/impounding for North Caldwell.

But the best scenario in West Orange may be to build a new shelter, the mayor said.

“Though the township has had discussions with Livingston about a joint venture on improving and sharing their shelter, we believe the best approach is to build a new one on the site of new dog park to be built on the Executive Drive redevelopment site,” Parisi wrote.

“This project includes a new dog park with parking on several acres and we intend to explore building a new shelter on this land,” Parisi said. “The township expects to close on the 10 Rooney Circle property as part of this site in the coming weeks, and we intend to retain an architect to provide plans for a new shelter before the end of the year.”

• See related article: Controversial West Orange Development Plan Reborn, Moves Forward

COVID CONCERNS

According to Parisi, the coronavirus is not an excuse – “it’s a pandemic.”

The mayor explained more in his Wednesday statement, apparently responding to concerns about the town’s policy of excluding members of the public from the shelter:

“Although much of our routine lives has started to return to normal, and most of us desperately want it to, the fact remains that the pandemic is not over and still an issue that local government needs to deal with. Our primary function is to serve residents … to serve people. That includes township employees.”

Parisi continued:

“Township employees have worked through COVID since the beginning without pause or hesitation and concerns they may have about their work environment needs to be respected, and the administration must work with the concerns of the employees both in their union representation as well as their individual concerns. That includes continuing to exclude the public from Town Hall and from other public buildings. But that has not prevented us from fulfilling our responsibilities in serving the community. Administrative, non-uniformed employees, continue to work and complete the necessary tasks expected of them. Residents make appointments for visiting Town Hall and are met outside or, in many cases, employees are bringing information directly to resident’s houses.”

The mayor added:

“Despite the current status of Town Hall, we provided 174 marriage licenses so far in 2021 and issued 1,780 construction permits in addition to all the day to day responsibilities local government has in serving the community. Operating the animal shelter and caring for the dogs and cats are among the daily objectives but are among many objectives, and each has been provided with the respect and legal obligation we have to care for the employees while providing a safe work environment for each of them. In this COVID world, that has created many challenges in fulfilling the many priorities.”

VOLUNTEERS, DONATIONS

According to Parisi, volunteers and donations continue to be appreciated at the shelter. He wrote:

“Support of the animal shelter and animals has always counted on volunteers and regrettably we understand that has suffered since the pandemic began. But the township has never turned away donations of toys or blankets and routinely provides as much comfort to the animals as possible when in the shelter. Additionally, though entering the shelter remains prohibited for the time being, residents would be welcomed to spend time with the animals while they are spending time outside, or to take them on walks in addition to routine outside time, arrangements will be made to bring animals outside to volunteering residents interested in this type of arrangement. We have never denied someone willing to give their time for the animals, only the ability to enter the facility since COVID began.”

“We can all do better, every day, and the administration welcomes support and genuine care for improving the circumstances for the animals, or any service we provide,” Parisi concluded. “Though often there may be obstacles or challenges that may not be obvious or anticipated by residents, we are always willing to do whatever can be done to find ways around those obstacles, within reason and within the limits of our authority, and improve conditions for residents … or for the dogs and cats that come to the shelter.”

• See related article: Eagle Scout Installs Outdoor Seats At West Orange Animal Shelter

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