Last year, Animal Alliance of New Jersey, a Lambertville-based nonprofit, facilitated the adoption of more than 400 pets throughout the Delaware River Towns. These were not just any animals. In many cases, they were days or even hours away from being euthanized.
Most were abused, injured, or ill, which generally makes them the most dispensable at overcrowded shelters throughout the region. But, as Animal Alliance has proven time and again over the course of its 21-year history, there’s a loving home for virtually every pet. Sometimes it just takes a little patience.
On a given day, Animal Alliance volunteers may take in a litter of kittens left to fend for themselves, an injured dog from a municipal pound, a group of puppies who are placing too much demand on an overtaxed shelter, and a family cat whose owners have been evicted from their home.
In addition to working to place these pets, the nonprofit also operates a low-cost spay/neuter clinic. About 15 to 20 animals are spayed/neutered and vaccinated on a typical day. Since the clinic was founded in 2009, more than 20,000 dogs and cats have been spayed and neutered there, according to Animal Alliance.
The clinic will also provide a free exam to a handful of animals with minor issues because their owners wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to take them to a veterinarian.
The aim is simply to keep at-risk pets in their homes and out of shelters.
Annie Trinkle was a part-time animal welfare volunteer for years before a near-death experience compelled her to found her own adoption program. As much of an impact as her Animal Alliance had right from its inception, it was clear to her that the demand on local shelters was only going to continue to grow until the root cause – overpopulation – was more effectively addressed. And so, she established Planned Pethood, the alliance’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic.
While Animal Alliance is largely volunteer-run, it is dependent on donations. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the nonprofit was able to stage its seventh annual BINGO fundraiser earlier this month at New Hope-Solebury Upper Elementary School.
On April 2, from 6 PM to 10 PM, it’ll host an “It’s Cool to be Country” benefit dinner at the Sergeantsville fire station, in Sergeantsville, New Jersey. There will be a barbeque dinner, live music, and – wait for it – a mechanical bull. Guests are encouraged to dress in their “country best.”
Tickets are $100 per person. You can buy yours here. They won’t be available at the door. Proceeds will support the ongoing efforts of Animal Alliance.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can learn more and apply here.
And if reading this has made you curious about adopting (again), you can learn more about that here. If you’re a good fit, check out the pets currently available for adoption here.
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