Camden Doghouse Project

Animal Control Officers in Camden saw the need for doghouses for those poor dogs that are left outside with no shelter. Although it is illegal not to have proper shelter, many still go without. NJAFA coordinated a project with three other groups that successfully raised over $4,000 to build sturdy doghouses. Our friends at Burger Fence recycles wood from the privacy fences they put up (yeah Ed!) so the dogs had the best wooden houses including rubber flaps to keep the wind out! Many dogs had a warm place to live this winter. NJAFA also obtained straw that a local farmer donated so each house delivered had straw to make themwarm and cozy!!

For the 2006/07 Dog House Project, Whole Foods Market chose NJAFA to donate the proceeds of their 5% day. From these proceeds, NJAFA is able to continue the project.
In 2005, we gave almost fifty dog houses to Camden residents with dogs. With your generous donations, we hope to EXCEED that amount this year!!! (Click here if you can help by making a DONATION)

Ongoing Spay/Neuter In Camden
Once a week NJAFA goes to City of Camden and pick up dogs or cats that need to be altered. For those who don't have the transportation to take the animals to the spay/neuter mobile van that is in Camden, NJAFA drives them to the mobile clinic.

For those who don't have the money AND transportation, NJAFA pays for the altering and returns the animal back to owner that evening. We get our leads from people that already had the animals altered and have friends or family that need help, animal control, and from our "friends" in Camden that are on the lookout for animals that need altering.

"Lulu and Opal" are two little cats that no one wanted and were wondering the streets. We scooped them both up and had them altered, gave them their shots. Lulu, such a pretty orange cat, found a very nice home in S. Jersey. Opal had AIDS and some broken teeth. This poor little girl must have had a hard time eating, She would not have survived in Camden with a compromised immunity system too. A very kind woman has taken Opal (now named Marci) and will give her a wonderful life. Marci has had her teeth cleaned and fixed up. Thanks to these wonderful ladies who took these two great cats!

Success Stories - Dempsey

"DEMPSEY"
Animal Control officers called NJAFA to ask if we would take this poor dog in that had been taken off the street and obviously been involved in a dog fight and used for dog fighting. The shelter where it would have to go would euthanize it because it had been used for fighting plus its wounds were so severe it would have been cost prohibitive to save this poor creature.

NJAFA aided poor Dempsey immediately. We raised funds to have surgery done on him immediately. Dempsey had his ear taken off because it was half off anyway. His body as you can see was scarred and battered. He was filthy dirty and thin.

Dempsey was a little lover boy and grew on the hearts of all of us. Although Dempsey was a sweet little boy and very very affectionate he could not be adopted to a family with another dog. Dempsey went to a very nice sanctuary for pitbulls and is living out his life there.

They love him and he will always have a special spot in our hearts.

This is Dempsey after he was all healed up and on the day he left for his forever home. We will never see him again but all those involved with his miraculous recovery sent love his way.

Success Stories - Taz - Miracle in Camden

MIRACLE IN CAMDEN


Many times in the past as a volunteer with one of the animal humane enforcement officers in Camden, I have reached out to help local citizens who either cannot afford to take care of their animals or do not have a car with which to transport their animals for vet care. Such was the case on a hot night in late June when I received a call from a Camden animal control officer that a resident needed help transporting her dog to a vet.

Arriving in Camden, the temperature was a scorching 96 degrees. No breezes cooled the hot cement that doubled as “backyards” nor were there any grass or trees to offer respite in Camden that night. I entered the tiny house with no air conditioning late in the evening and saw a thin German Shepherd lying with its head on its master’s lap. I immediately sent my husband to the CVS to purchase a thermometer to take the dog’s temperature. While it was hovering around l03, which is a little above normal, we all decided the best place for Tazzie, the shepherd, was to come home with me so I could transport him to my vet first thing in the morning.

Once at my home, Tazzie slept in a soft bed with a gentle breeze in a backyard full of trees in a safe, quiet environment, away from the chaos and cacophony of Camden.

The next morning at 7:00 am, when I went to check on Taz, he was dead. Dead in the literal sense that he was almost not breathing, he was in shock, he had no capillary response, his eyes were fixed and dilated, he was totally limp. Taz was lying in and covered with blood and diarrhea..

Still in my nightclothes, I scooped him up and put him in the back of my SUV. Minutes away from my local vet I reached the office just as they were opening.

We carried Taz into the hospital on a stretcher. When asked “how far do you want to go to save this dog”, I didn’t hesitate. I advised my vet to “do whatever has to be done to save this dog.”

Tazzie was plunged into a bath of cool water and an iv drip was started. Taz’s temperature was a staggering ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT DEGREES!!! Taz should have been and by all rights was dead.

Urgently, the doctor and the vet tech pumped Taz with antibiotics and fluids. Ice packs were placed around his body while I used a hose to keep cool water flowing on him and rinse away the blood and feces covering his limp body. I was told Taz would probably not make it and to be prepared to make the decision to put him down.

Miraculously, Taz survived that day and into the night. The next day Tazzie was trying to hold up his head. Each day that went by, his will to survive was stronger and stronger. He spent four days in intensive care and was released to me because it was a holiday weekend and I lived very close to the vet in case Taz would go back into a coma again.

Tazzie had survived the mean streets of Camden, a temperature of l08 degrees and four days in intensive care. Almost two weeks after Tazzie’s near death experience, he was surrendered to me so that I could provide him with a safe environment and a loving family.

As summer continued her sojourn and Taz regained his strength, he started to gain weight and began to play and discover his new surroundings. One day Taz decided to venture a paw, with trepidation, into our pool. One paw, two paws and off Tazzie went the rest of the summer swimming in our pool, with or without us, it didn’t matter. We had to buy him a life vest so that he would be safe while he swam all the time.

We knew the family Taz would be adopted to had to love the water and that is the family we found. Although I received literally dozens of requests to adopt Taz, only one stood out among them all. One family I knew almost immediately would be the family I would select to provide the love and a second chance at a happy life for Taz. The fact that they had emailed or called me every day for two weeks to see if they had been selected certainly made me feel that I had made the right decision.

Almost two months to the day on Labor Day weekend, I delivered Tazzie to his new home. He could not be more loved, adored or spoiled. Taz swims with his new brother and sister, Nicky and Samantha and they even brush their teeth together!!!

Taz’s story is a miracle and demonstrates what all of us can do when we are willing to go the “extra mile”, put ourselves out for an animal and never give up even in the most extraordinary circumstances. Tazzie, didn’t.

Success Stories - Duece

DUECE
Every Dog Has its Day" This Day was Deuce's.
Deuce's owner, after calling several other rescues in the area for help and not even getting a return phone call, finally reached Kathy McGuire, our President. Deuce's owner explained he had already spent $450!!! on this poor dog and was told the dog would probably die if it were not taken to an all night emergency care facility. The owner had no more money left for his dog. He begged us to help him. How could we turn down Deuce's little face?

Deuce was taken immediately to our wonderful vet who admitted Duece into intensive care. Deuce had Parvo a very contagious (and deadly) disease that is very common in Camden City. What the other vet had failed to ascertain as well is that Deuce also had intestinal torsion. Again, a fatal situation.

Little Deuce was probably not going to make it. The dog was already in a compromised situation with his immune system and still had to go under anesthesia to be operated on for the torsion.

It was touch and go for the four days Deuce spent in intensive care.

Every day our vet said it probably was a lost cause but we told him to do whatever it took to save this little guy.

Today, three weeks later, Deuce is home with his owner in Camden being a good boy.....except he really got spoiled on that boiled chicken and rice!!

The owner although not able to pay us back for this very expensive stay in hospital is helping NJAFA pass out flyers in Camden to let people know about spaying and neutering their animals.

Success Stories - Mickey

TAKE THIS LITTLE LEPRECHAUN HOME LITTLE MICKEY FOUND IN CAMDEN ON ST. PATTY’S DAY

NJAFA received a call from a very kind woman in Camden that was feeding this little guy. He was very very sick and she could not care for this little kitten. We picked up two others at the same time and nursed them back to health. Mickey was matted, had a bad upper respiratory virus and his eyes were so infected they were glued shut.

Look at little “Mick” now. He is all better and well adjusted with his foster family. In fact, his “sister” this big German Shepherd bathes Mickey regularly and Mickey loves it. Mickey also lives with four other dogs!! And three children!!! He loves all the attention and activity.

Mickey has long silky black hair that he loves to have brushed. He is neutered and has all his shots and been tested.