October 10, 2020
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Non-profit organization Trenton Animals Rock and Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora held an adoption event at the historic Mill Hill Park in the North Ward today to announce an upcoming micro-chipping clinic and soon to be established animal food pantry for Trenton residents, as well as ongoing efforts to update the city’s euthanasia policies to help the Trenton animal shelter maintain no-kill status into the foreseeable future.
“The Trenton Animals Rock team is a passionate group of volunteers who have worked tirelessly, and collaboratively, with the City of Trenton to lower the euthanasia rate for shelter dogs by funding medical care and building a robust network of fosters and adopters,” said TAR Founder, Danielle Gletow, “We are immensely grateful to Mayor Gusciora, his team and the dedicated Animal Control Officers who have made our work possible.”
“Trenton is a city of second chances, and I can’t thank Trenton Animal Rocks enough for their efforts to make sure that animals that end up in our shelter find loving homes in the Capital City and elsewhere,” said Mayor Gusciora. “These volunteers went above and beyond of what we asked of them and helped Trenton have a no-kill shelter for the first time in its history. Thanks to their expertise, we believe we can develop long-term policies that will secure that status well beyond my administration.”
Trenton Animals Rock is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that has worked with the City of Trenton since June 2018. It provides funding for medical care, training, and boarding for injured, abandoned, and abused dogs, and is the key entity connecting homeless dogs to households throughout New Jersey and beyond.
Trenton Animals Rock announced today that it will now offer to place a tracking chip with any dog that a resident reclaims at the shelter and will host chipping clinics over the next few months where residents can request the service at no cost. Trenton Animals Rock is also working to establish an animal food pantry for pet owners in need.
Since Trenton Animals Rock began managing the shelter’s behavior assessment and foster program in June 2019, the euthanasia rate at the shelter decreased from 47 percent to less than 10 percent, putting the shelter on track to become a no-kill shelter for the first time.
The City of Trenton and Trenton Animals Rock are working together to codify an updated shelter policy that will help ensure that animals are not euthanized unless it is absolutely necessary for medical or safety reasons. The Gusciora Administration is also developing an RFI to solicit industry expertise on the potential costs and next steps for a new animal shelter that can better meet the growing needs of the Capital City.
Since February of 2019, Trenton Animals Rock has adopted out 215 dogs from the Trenton animal shelter. In June 2019, it worked with the City of Trenton and other rescue partners to place over 55 dogs that were rescued from a hoarding situation.
To date, Trenton Animals Rock has paid out over $150,000 to provide life-saving medical care to dozens of dogs and cats at the shelter. For more information about Trenton Animals Rock and potential volunteer and adoption opportunities, visit tarnj.org or contact them at [email protected].
Brian Hoff with a dog he adopted as a rescue with TAR — Trenton Animals Rock
Meet Luna who is available for adoption.
Lava is available for adoption.
Casper is up for adoption and needs a home.
Dino is up for adoption and needs a home.
Othello is available for adoption and needs a home.
Above photos provided by City of Trenton Mayor’s Office of the TAR Trenton Animals Rock event held today.