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We're seeking
help, support and assistance by sending out the press release below (and
attached) to this email. Read the press release to see how you can directly help
out, including writing letters attesting to how important foster homes are and
the great work FFRV does for the community. Please cross post this and feel
free to contact us for more information.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wesh "mommacat" AKA Chairwoman to Furrever Friends Rescue & Volunteers ffrv.petfinder.org "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." -Albert Einstein 09/23/06 FURREVER FRIENDS RESCUE & VOLUNTEERSP.O. BOX
141 Woodbury, NJ 08096 856-845-8554 FFRV.petfinder.org PRESS RELEASE
Woodbury, NJ (Gloucester
County)
FOSTER
HOME THREATENED TO BE SHUT DOWN Jennifer Smith’s volunteer foster home of rescued
cats is in danger of being shut down by the Borough of Brooklawn. The Town Council contends that the
homeowner is in violation of the town’s pet limit ordinance despite that the
eight cats in question do not belong to her; they are temporary residents under
the foster care program of Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers (FFRV). And while several of the council members
commended Smith on her voluntary efforts, it was made clear by the majority that
animal rescue is not welcome in Brooklawn. In jeopardy are eight cats, sterilized and
vaccinated, rescued from various towns throughout Southern New Jersey. Some are shyer or senior cats that may
be difficult to find homes for.
Although Smith has been excused from disciplinary action for now, FFRV
expects that the Borough will order her to remove the animals from the home and
discontinue fostering. With area
shelters and FFRV still overwhelmed with kittens from the summer and spring, the
fate of these eight cats is uncertain. Jennifer Smith, Board Member and foster home to NJ
Registered Charity Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, was devastated on
July 12th when she received a letter from the Borough instructing her to remove
the animals from her home that exceeded the limit of 3 pets. A plea to the Borough from the rescue
group resulted in a repeat response to remove the 8 foster animals. As a result, 20 representatives from
local rescue organizations attended the August 21 council meeting to educate the
Borough Council of the benefits of foster homes for stray and unwanted pets.
Animal Welfare Association of Voorhees felt the issue was so important that they
sent a letter of endorsement to the Council on Smith’s
behalf. It was a devastating blow when the council decided on
September 18 to keep the pet limit ordinance as is and reject the addition of an
exception for foster homes. More
surprising was the unrealistic advice for Smith to apply for a use variance with
the Planning and Zoning Board, which involves several hundred dollars in fees
and would most likely be denied. “The Borough is setting a precedent to ignore animals
in need – even the ones on their own streets,” said FFRV President Jen Wesh.
"Essentially, the Council is turning away free services to help control the
obvious pet overpopulation problem in our community as well as banning people
from volunteering to be foster homes”. Mayor John Soubasis, whom proclaimed “I am not an animal person” at the
recent September 18 Borough Council meeting, listened to reports from residents
and fellow council members that stray animals do continue to walk the streets of
Brooklawn despite their pet limit ordinance and leash law. Yet, the council decided to uphold the
ineffective laws, and pass Ms. Smith’s plight on to the Planning and Zoning
Board for consideration of a use variance for an animal shelter. It was when Ms. Smith obtained the application that
FFRV saw the need to reach out to the public for help. A handwritten note attached with a paper
clip reads “shelter not permitted in residential zone” and lists fees totaling a
minimum cost of $185. FFRV cannot
justify spending donor’s dollars that are meant for the direct care of rescued
animals on an application that will mostly likely be denied. Their only choice is to go back to the
Council again. FFRV needs the public’s help: first, to apply to
adopt one of Ms. Smith’s now-in-jeopardy foster cats. Second, to send polite letters to the
Borough of Brooklawn Council requesting they reconsider. The letters would be presented on
October 15 when the Council is approached for the third
time. Smith is prepared to go to court to keep her foster
home open, but hopes that will not be necessary. “Apparently someone anonymously reported
that the number of animals in my home exceed the pet limit. Officials have not come to see the
animals or to inspect my home. They
have not received any nuisance complaints.
I am dumbfounded that 8 cats may have to die over this, and that strays
that may have been saved by my fostering would have no where to
go”. Foster homes are essential to today’s humane animal
rescue programs. Local NJ
organizations Animal Welfare Association, Camden County Animal Shelter, Almost
Home Shelter and the Gloucester County Animal Shelter all have foster home
programs. The State of New Jersey
also endorsed foster homes in a 2002 report from the Governor appointed Animal Welfare Task Force: “rescuers and foster care givers….(are)
providing a public service, using their own time and resources, and should not
be penalized by way of a pet limit law, particularly when the law would not
prevent the mischief it is intended to prevent." In addition, Courts in Pennsylvania have found pet
limits unconstitutional:
Commonwealth v. Creighton, PA. Cmwlth., 639 A.2d 1296 (1994)
Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers was featured
across the Country last spring when they helped to find homes for 5 kittens that
had been found in Woodbury taped closed in a beer box in a dumpster. Since then, they have rescued unwanted
pets that had been tossed from moving cars, pulled from abusive homes, and
living on the streets. A small
organization, the entire operation is dependant on foster homes and
donations. Loosing Ms. Smith’s
foster home would be a tremendous loss to the organization, as well as to the
future animals that Smith could help. To adopt a homeless pet, please go to
FFRV.PETFINDER.ORG or call 856 845 8554. Please send polite letters of
support. Borough of
Brooklawn Mayor John
Soubasis 301 Christiana
Street Brooklawn, New Jersey 08030 Tel # (856)
456-0750 Fax # (856)
456-1874 [EMAIL PROTECTED] It is crucial that a copy of your
letter also goes to: FFRV, PO Box 141, Woodbury, NJ 08096 PHOTOS
AVAILABLE
Disclaimer: The authors reserve the right not to be responsible for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any kind of information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected. Maria
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If you do not wish to receive further mailings, please do not mark as Spam. Simply reply and type in the subject list No More Mailings. Thank you. You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them, or to them." (Malcolm Forbes, 1919-1990) Animal Voices http://animalvoices.catcares.net/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AllStatesRescues/join Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy http://dmd.catcares.net/ Animal Themes http://www.cafepress.com/animalthemes The Animal Rescue Site http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com "A single voice may not be heard, but the voices of many cannot be ignored. " ~ Author Unknown
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