Place an Animal

Finding A Home For An Animal

IMPORTANT: Finding a home for an animal at this time is VERY difficult. Many, many people are giving up their animals these days – loss of job, foreclosure and other reasons. IF THERE IS ANY WAY YOU CAN KEEP YOUR ANIMAL, FOR YOUR ANIMAL’S SAKE, YOU MUST. Shelters are bursting at the seams, rescues are overloaded and homeless animals are being killed simply due to overcrowding. If you are not careful, your animal could end up in a shelter where s/he could be killed the minute you walk out the door. Or, your animal could end up in the hands of someone who would abuse him or her. Try family workers, co-workers, neighbors if you feel you must give up your beloved family member. Your animal’s future life is in your hands.

  • From the list below, call the rescue groups in your area to see if there is room in their foster homes. If not, inquire if they hold adoption days that you can take the animal to or if you can be put in a waiting list.
  • From the list below, contact your local shelters and find out what their holding policy is. Will they keep the animal there until he or she finds a good home, or will the animal be killed after a certain period of time? It is extremely important to ask these questions before surrendering an animal to a shelter. Once you surrender, you will no longer have any control over decisions made regarding your animal.
  • NOTE: Never, ever place an ad for your animal that says “free to a good home.” That will attract all sorts of unscrupulous people–those who will sell them to laboratories for experimentation, use them as bait in dog fighting, kill them in animal sacrifice rituals or, like a 2007 case in Monmouth County, torture and kill them (a man was convicted of torturing and killing 14 cats and kittens he took in from “free to a good home” ads). The danger is very real and people will put on a good front, even posing as a “family,” especially if they can get an animal who will bring them good money when sold for experimentation.
  • If you will be placing your animal yourself, please download APLNJ’s Adoption Packet, which contains information on how to screen potential adopters, an adoption application and an adoption contract. You should NEVER adopt without an application and contract!

ALLERGIES: If you are considering surrendering an animal due to suspected allergies, we strongly recommend that you confirm the presence of allergies. Some studies have shown that up to two-thirds of people who think they have allergies, don’t. They can be spending money on expensive, yet totally unnecessary, medications, or making lifestyle changes (like giving up a treasured animal companion) and still not feel better. In some cases, inappropriate treatment may be making things worse. Visit “Is It Allergies?” to learn about allergy tests which can confirm the presence or absence of allergies. Also read this article on dealing with cat allergies.

NEW BABY: If you are considering giving up an animal because of a new born baby in the family, you may want to learn more about studies which show that the presence of animals may help PREVENT allergies from occurring in children. See this CNN article to read about these studies, then ask your doctor if this is a good choice for your family.

LITTERBOX ISSUES: Litter box issues can be extremely stressful and difficult to deal with, but there are many ways to successfully resolve issues of inappropriate littering. Read Litter Box Solutions here. You can also try a free sample of Cat Attract. Unneutered males will often spray and go outside of litter boxes, so step number 1 should always be to get a male cat neutered. Contact us for more ideas and support.

FINANCIAL ISSUES: If it’s money, there are groups that can help financially in certain situations. CLICK HERE.

BEHAVIOR: If it’s behavior issues, we may be able to advise you on that also. Please contact us.

Disclaimer:

APLNJ cannot vouch for all of the groups or shelters listed below. We strongly encourage anyone looking to surrender an animal to thoroughly look into the policies of the group or shelter:
— Will the group or shelter keep the animal until he or she finds a good home? Will the animal be killed after a certain number of days? Do they have adequate foster homes/facilities? Will they let you see their foster homes or facility? What are their screening policies for adoptions?

If any organization is not willing to answer your questions, or will not let you see their facility or foster homes, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ANIMAL WITH THEM! Unfortunately some well-intentioned people in rescue get in over their head and take in far too many animals and keep them in substandard conditions. It is your responsibility to be sure that you do not leave your animal at such a place.

We would appreciate being made aware of any corrections, additions or input regarding this list. Please email us. Thank you.

Atlantic County

Animal Survival Without Cruelty, 609-429-2974
LICKS, 609-653-9004
Atlantic County Animal Shelter, 609-485-2345
Atlantic County SPCA, 609-927-9059
Humane Society of Atlantic County, 609-347-2487
Humane Society of Ocean City, 609-399-2018
Pet Protection Society, 609-484-8098

Bergen County

Adopt a Companion, 201-568-9816
Adoption & Rescue Association, 201-796-7558
Animals Need You, 973-420-2981
START II, 201-797-8861, 973-785-1245
Wyckoff Animal Shelter, 201-891-7000
A Pathway to Hope
Adopt-a-Buddy, Inc/Pug Rescue, 201-612-0709
Animal Life Savers, 201- 861-3411
Animal Rescue Team, 201-935-7076
Bergen County Animal Shelter, 201-229-4600
Caring About the Strays (CATS), 201-666-5444
Closter Animal Welfare Society, 201-768-0200
Chance at Life Cat Rescue, 551-206-1284
Elaine’s Foundation for Homeless Felines, 201-410-7280
Fair Lawn Animal Pound, 201-796-1400
Four Paws Animal Welfare Society, 201-670-5635
Friends of Homeless Animals, 973-778-4001, 973-620-0284
Friends of the County Animal Shelter, 201-943-4019
Happy Tails Animal Rescue, 201-723-8842
Here Kitty Kitty, 862-668-4454
Humane Society of Bergen County, 201-896-9300
National Foundation for Animal Rescue, 877-554-8787
Paramus Animal Shelter, 201-649-0710
Paramus Animal Welfare Society, 201-791-5561
Pet ResQ Inc, 201-541-7283
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, 201-337-5180

Burlington County

Adopt a Pet, 856-829-7332
Companion Animal Placement, 856-273-2840
Animal Sanctuary Society, 856-642-0004
Burlington County Animal Alliance, 609-880-1235
Burlington County Animal Shelter, 609-265-5073
Oasis Animal Sanctuary, 856-262-1222
Paws and Claws Society, 856-848-7664
Animal Welfare Association, 856-424-2288
PetPALS of Southern New Jersey, 856-931-4399 (assists ill or needy individuals ONLY)

Camden County

Almost Home Animal Shelter, 856-663-3058
Animal Adoption Center, 856-435-9116
Animal Orphanage, 856-627-9111
Animal Welfare Association, 856-424-2288
Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, 856-401-1300
Hearts & Paws, 856-795-2222
Lilo’s Promise,, 856-207-7818
Oasis Animal Sanctuary, 856-262-1222
Saved Whiskers, 856-719-0512
Paws and Claws Society, 856-848-7664
PetPALS of Southern New Jersey, 856-931-4399 (assists ill or needy individuals ONLY)
Velvet Paws, 609-428-8889
West Jersey Volunteers for Animals, 856-845-3860, 856-728-3004

Cape May County

Animal Outreach, 609-898-1738
Animal Welfare Society, 609-465-3403
Cape May County Animal Shelter, 609-465-8923
Humane Society of Ocean City, 609-399-2018
Beacon Animal Rescue, 609-390-7946
SOS Sea Isle Cats, 609-263-7731

Cumberland County

Cumberland County SPCA, 856-691-1500

Essex County

Short Hills Four Paws, 973-376-3866, 908-647-0012
Homeless Animal League, 973-429-3002
Associated Humane Societies, 973-824-7080
John A. Bukowski Shelter for Animals, 973-748-0194
Homeless Animal League, 973-429-3002
Cameron Animal Hospital Rescue, 973-744-2052
CATS—Care & Treatment of Straysnbamc@aol.com
Friends of Bukowski’s Animals, 973-259-0016
Jersey Animal Coalition, 973-763-7322
Orphaned Pets, 973-882-8363, 973-635-7395
PAWS, 973-746-5212, 973-746-5451
Summit Animal Rescue Assn, 908-464-1203
W Orange Animal Welfare League, 973-325-4128, 973-736-8689
Livingston Animal Shelter, 973-535-7961
A Purrfect World, 973-566-9022
Here Kitty Kitty, 862-668-4454

Gloucester County

Save the Animals Foundation, 856-582-7718
Oasis Animal Sanctuary, 856-262-1222
Gloucester County Animal Shelter, 856-218-7006
Animal Welfare Association, 856-424-2258
Animal Adoption Center, 856-435-9116
FurrEver Friends, 856-845-8554
Paws and Claws, 856-848-7664
PetPALS of Southern New Jersey, 856-931-4399 (assists ill or needy individuals ONLY)

Hudson County

Friends of Urban Rescue, 201-222-6100
Animal Life Savers, 201- 861-3411
Animals Need You, 973-420-2981
Companion Animal Placement, 201-610-0842
Companion Animal Trust
Happy FeetCrissCatF@aol.com
Heaven On Earth Four Paws, 201-823-4303
Hudson County Animal League, 201-200-1008
Liberty Humane Society, 201-547-4147
Here Kitty Kitty, 862-668-4454
Lend-A-Paw Animal Rescue
Pets for Keeps

Hunterdon County

Hunterdon Humane Animal Shelter, 908-996-2525
People for Unwanted Feline Friends, 908-234-1273
Rogers’ Rescues
Save Our Strays, Incvalerie.r@excite.com
Tabby’s Place, 908-237-5300
Animal Alliance of Belle Mead, 609-818-1952
Lost Paws Animal Rescue, 908-331-1551
Cat Adoption & Pet Information Center, 908-526-5045 or 908-393-2007 (adoption only)

Hunterdon Animal Rescue Team, hartpetrescue@hotmail.com

Mercer County

SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals, 609-921-6122
Animal Allies, 609-737-2380
Animal Friends for Education & Welfare, 609-448-5322
Animal Placement of the Windsors, 609-799-1263
Animals in Distress, email
Chrissy’s Kitty ResQ, 609-448-7806
Focus on Animals, 609-275-1280
Hamilton Twp. Animal Shelter, 609-890-3550
Lawrence Twp. Animal Shelter, 609-844-7092
Small Dog Rescue, 609-921-6122
Stray Katz, 609-203-3414
Trenton Animal Shelter, 609-989-3254
Pet Rescue of Mercer
Ewing Township Animal Shelter, 609-393-9608
Homeward Bound Rescue, 609-586-9143
Animal Alliance of Belle Mead, 609-818-1952

Middlesex County

Noah’s Ark, 732-815-1633
North Brunswick Humane Assoc., 908-812-7686, 732-247-0650
Animal Lifesavers Pet Adoption, 732-254-5002, 732-549-1270
Animal Rescue Force, 732-257-7559
Blumig Kennels, 732-251-3210
Cattitude, Inc, 732-491-5696
Helping Hands for Helpless Paws, 732-572-7637
Old Bridge Animal Shelter, 732-721-5600
Perth Amboy Animal Shelter, 732-324-3877
Sayreville Pet Adoption Center, 732-727-3895
PawsAbilities Rescuepawsabilitiesrescue@hotmail.com
Whiskers & Wags 4 Adoption, 908-822-9662
Feline Rescue Missionglibbares@yahoo.com or felinerescuemission@yahoo.com
Cat Adoption & Pet Information Center, 908-526-5045 or 908-393-2007 (adoption only)

Monmouth County

Operation Kindness, 732-842-4883
Pet Adoption League, 732-530-8267
Adopt-a-Pet, 732-462-5184
Animal Rescue Force, 732-257-7559, 732-792-8101
Associated Humane Societies, 732-922-0100
Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue, 732-765-8378
Monmouth County SPCA, 732-542-0040, 732-542-0298
Save Our Community Strays, 908-770-4995
Nature’s Refuge, 732-833-0464 (for adoption ONLY)
Hope for Animals, 732-549-1270
Purrfect Feline Friends, 732-239-0433 or mspacak@comcast.net
Lolli-Pop Animal Rescuepaws2001@optonline.net
Three Little Kittens, 732-988-3024

Morris County

BARK, 973-786-5763
Forgotten Pets, 973-299-9112
Garden State Animal Rescue, 908-647-3000
KISS, 973-670-2481
PATCH, 973-835-7202
Jefferson Township Animal Shelter, 973-663-3241
Lakeland Animal Haven, 973-584-1415
Montville Animal Shelter, 973-334-6410
Animal Recovery Network, 973-627-0789
Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, 973-386-0590
Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association, 973-347-0378
Orphaned Pets, 973-882-8363, 973-953-0656
Pequannock Animal Shelter, 973-835-3980
Pet Adoption League, 973-845-0095, 973-663-0955, 973-584-0095
Randolph Municipal Pound, 973-989-7090
Second Chance Pet Adoption, 973-208-1054
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare, 973-377-7094
Summit Animal League, 973-701-1812
Summit Animal Rescue Association, 732-309-4089
Parsippany Animal Shelter, 973-263-7083
Smitten by Kittensadopt@smittenbykittens.com
Cause 4 Paws, 973-953-0656
Operation Sanctuary, 908-684-4763
11th Hour Rescue, 973-664-0865

Ocean County

The Volunteer Auxiliary, 732-892-7884
All About Them Giant Breed Rescue, 609-758-8261
Animal Birth Control, 732-349-5898, 732-269-8793
Associated Humane Societies, 609-693-1900
Dover Township Animal Shelter, 732-367-5044
Jersey Shore Animal Center, 732-920-1600
Ocean County Animal Facility-North, 732-657-8086
Ocean County Animal Facility-South, 609-978-0127
New Beginnings Pet Rescue, no phone
Meadow’s Spirit Cat Rescue, no phone
Shore Animal Volunteer Enterprise, 732-288-2884

Passaic County

PATCH, 973-835-7202
Animal Rescue Team , 973-684-8729
Pequannock Animal Shelter, 973-835-3980
Animals Need You, 973-420-2981
West Milford Animal Shelter, 973-728-2859
Friends of the Clifton Animal Shelter, 973-470-5936
Passaic Animal Shelter, 973-365-5669
Paterson Animal Control, 973-881-3640
Pet Adoption League, 973-584-0095
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, 973-337-5180
Save The Animals Rescue Team, 973-785-1245, 973-797-8861
Tri-Boro Animal Welfare, 973-838-7140, 973-831-5555
Wayne Twp. Animal Shelter, 973-694-0767
Bloomingdale Animal Shelter, 973-838-2220, 973-838-8959
Here Kitty Kitty, 862-668-4454
Paws for Love (dogs only), dogmom4us@yahoo.com
Second Chance Pet Adoption League, 973-208-1054
Friends of Homeless Animals, 973-778-4001, 973-620-0284, 973-427-3390
All Humane Animal Rescue, 973-616-8569

Salem County

Animal Care of South Jersey, 856-691-4333
Society to Protect Animals, 856-299-1155
Salem County Humane Society, 856-299-2220
PetPALS of Southern New Jersey, 856-931-4399 (assists ill or needy individuals ONLY)

Somerset County

A Lifeline for Animals, 908-507-3900
North Branch KARE, 908-534-6386
Open Your Heart, 908-874-8815
A New Leash on Life, 732-424-2006
Animal Alliance of Belle Mead, 609-818-1952
Companion Animal Placement, 908-658-3786, 908-218-1939
Franklin Twp. Animal Shelter, 732-873-2500 x:255
Homeless Animal Lifeline, 732-804-7637
Montgomery Twp. Animal Shelter, 908-359-4308
NJ Save A Pet Rescue, 908-397-1211
People for Unwanted Feline Friends, 908-234-1273
Rawhide Rescue, 908-561-8056
Second Chance for Animals, 732-748-7232
Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, 908-725-0308
Small Dog Rescue, 908-904-9154
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Cente, 908-526-3330
Summit Animal Rescue Association, 908-464-1203
Whiskers & Wags 4 Adoption, 908-822-9662
Cat Adoption & Pet Information Center, 908-526-5045 or 908-393-2007 (adoption only)

Sussex County

Abandoned Pets, 973-948-3696
Bark, 973-768-5404
Byram Animal Shelter, 973-347-0279
Sparta Twp. Animal Shelter, 973-579-7744
Vernon Animal Shelter, 973-764-7751
BARKS, 973-300-3185
Hopatcong Animal Haven, 201-398-1305
Jefferson Township Pound, 973-663-3241
Niki’s Feline Rescuenikigrab@yahoo.com
Father John’s Animal House, 973-300-5909
Wantage Pound, 973-875-9390
Hopatcong Pound, 973-770-1200
Randolph Pound, 973-989-7090
Triboro Animal Welfare, 973-831-5555
Vernon Animal Welfare League, 973-765-7631
Room for One More, 973-729-5225
Eleventh Hour Rescue, 973-769-5648, 973-664-0865
Operation Sanctuaryinfo@operationsanctuary.org

One Step Closer Animal Rescue

Union County

Animal Alliance Welfare League, 973-574-3981
Elizabeth Shelter, 908-820-4242
Noah’s Arknoahsanimals@comcast.net
Union Animal Shelter, 908-810-1663
Whiskers & Wags 4 Adoption, 908-822-9662
Lifeline Animal Rescue, 908-507-3900
Best Friend Animal Adoption, 908-486-0230

Plainfield Area Humane Society, 908-754-0300
Wag n’ Bark, 973-822-2647
Summit Animal Rescue Association, 908-464-1203
Cause 4 Paws, 908-232-4153
Pawsabilitiespawsabilities@hotmail.com
Friends of Linden Animal Shelter, 732-388-6300

Warren County

DASH, 908-832-5381
Washington Borough Dog Pound, 908-689-6657
Pet Adoption League, 973-584-0095
Warren Hills Animal Society, 908-689-4425
Operation Sanctuaryinfo@operationsanctuary.org
Feline Urban Rescue & Rehab, 908-835-9551, 908-689-4434
Communities Altering The Strays (CATS), 908-453-0082