Adopting an animal is a rewarding and, many times, life-saving event. But, have you ever thought about the behind-the-scenes operation of this process — the rescue efforts? With so many animals in need, it is important to take note of the growing number of ways to support animal rescue in the Hoboken and Jersey City areas. Whether you have all the time and money in the world to give or just an hour a week, you can make a difference in the life of an abused, abandoned, or sick animal. It doesn’t take much to show you care and the reward of even just one doggy kiss or kitty purr will be something that stays with you for a lifetime.
A local rescue that has been rescuing dogs in need since March of 2015 is Wise Animal Rescue (W.A.R.). It is a non-profit and is completely foster-based, meaning all dogs are placed in loving foster homes instead of in a shelter. It is W.A.R.’s mission to help dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages. They take in sick dogs, old dogs, giant dogs, super tiny dogs, and even the occasional cat. Our Editor in Chief Jen has first-hand experience with the organization as she just recently adopted her pup Finn {pictured below — what a cutie!} from Wise Animal Rescue. Read on for more info on this amazing local rescue and learn how you can volunteer, donate, foster, and even adopt your own pet:
How Pets Get to Wise Animal Rescue:
W.A.R. takes in dogs from 1 of 2 ways —the first being directly from municipal shelters. These shelters are places that provide animal control services for towns such as Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark, Edison, and more. The second is from owner surrenders {when an owner can no longer take care of his or her dog and wishes to give it up to the rescue}. Almost all of the dogs are from New Jersey with the occasional dog coming in from New York or Pennsylvania.
What Happens After the Rescue:
Once rescued, the dogs go directly into foster homes where they receive the care and training they need. W.A.R. also has veterinary partnerships to make sure every dog is healthy and, if a dog is not, that it receives immediate medical attention. The vets also make sure all the dogs are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, and microchipped so that they are ready for adoption.
How to Get Involved:
In addition to being foster-based, W.A.R. relies solely on volunteers to operate. They also run completely on donations from their supporters. Here are sveral ways you can get involved yourself:
Adopt
The best thing you can do for a homeless dog is to adopt it. Ask anyone with an adopted pet and they will tell you that it is the most rewarding thing they’ve ever done. Sure, it may take some work, an adjustment period, and a learning curve, but that dog will be forever grateful. While dogs add some major responsibilities to your day-to-day, it is well worth the time, energy, and money knowing that you’ve saved a life.
W.A.R.’s adoption process is as follows:
- Check out the available dogs on their website complete with bios and pictures
- Fill out an adoption application for a dog that interests you
- Have a 30 or so minute interview with their Adoption Coordinator to learn more about the dog and see if he or she would be a good match for you and your family
- Go through the reference and veterinary check where your friends, family, and vet {if you have one} are called to make sure you are able and ready to take care of a dog and, if you have had a pet in the past, that that pet was taken care of
- The best part — the meet and greet. Once approved, you will be invited to come meet the dog you’ve applied for. Your entire family, including any dogs, must be present
- If the meet and greet goes well, you will be able to adopt the dog and will have a home check to ensure your home is safe for the new incoming family member
READ: Everything You Need to Know About Fostering Animals in Hoboken
Foster
If you’d like to help but aren’t looking to take in a dog permanently, fostering is a great option. Typically, W.A.R.’s fosters hold onto the dogs until they are adopted. Dogs can be in the rescue for a week or two or many months. If you cannot commit to taking in a dog for an extended period of time, the Adoption/Foster Coordinator will work with you to figure out who can take the dog after you if it hasn’t been adopted by a certain date W.A.R. provides their fosters with everything they could need from dog food to crates to access to their veterinary network.
Volunteer
You can volunteer whether you’re an adopter, foster, or just a supporter and there are many “jobs” the rescue needs help with. Wise Animal Rescue is always looking for assistance with social media, event planning, fundraising, transportation for the dogs, and administrative work.
Donate
Between medical bills, trainers, and providing the dogs with anything they could possibly need, W.A.R.’s funds are often stretched thin. Making a one-time donation or a monthly reoccurring one can make a huge difference. Because W.A.R. has no employees/is a non-profit, all of the money goes directly to the dogs so you can be sure your donation is being used for the care of a dog in need.
See More: Pet Friendly Apartments + Condos in Hoboken
Fundraiser — Wise Animal Rescue at Talde on March 24th
On March 24th, 2018, Wise Animal Rescue is hosting a big fundraiser right in our backyard at Talde in Jersey City. The drinks are sponsored by Corgi Distillery of Jersey City and there will be a DJ, a gift basket auction, food, and a photo booth. All the proceeds from ticket sales go directly to W.A.R. Tickets are $25 during the presale and $30 at the door, and one ticket includes 1 free drink and 2 auction tickets. Additional auction tickets will be sold for $5 and the auction items were generously donated by businesses in our area. To purchase tickets, click here.
If you have any questions about Wise Animal Rescue or would like to get involved, please email their Adoption/Foster Coordinator, Kristina Helfer, at kh@primereg.com. Or, visit their website, www.wiseanimalrescue.org, where you can find adoptable pets and foster, adoption, and volunteer applications.
