March 8, 2012
CAMDEN – NJ Aid for Animals, Inc. which delivers a range of services to promote care, prevent animal abuse and improve the quality of life for animals in Camden, is offering free, life-saving vaccines for animals belonging to city residents on the following Saturdays: March 31, May 12 and June 16. The annual clinics offering free vaccines will take place at the FOP Lodge, 1137 Federal Street, Camden City, from 9 a.m. to Noon. No reservation is required. “We want to get to the most animals and hope to vaccinate as many as possible,” said Kathy McGuire, founder and President/CEO of NJ Aid for Animals, Inc.
A tax-exempt nonprofit, NJ Aid for Animals is the only all-volunteer animal rescue that provides this type of community service bringing free, life-saving vaccines to Camden City to protect dogs against the highly contagious parvo virus and the upper respiratory and calici virus for cats. Parvo is a deadly condition that ranks second only to hot weather trauma as the top cause of preventable canine deaths in summer. There is no drug to give to a dog that kills parvovirus once the animal is infected.
“Rabies vaccines are given by the state at free clinics, but parvo vaccines are costly, especially for residents in low-income areas, said Kathy McGuire, President & CEO, NJ Aid for Animals. “This represents our commitment to the animals in Camden City, as well as the interest other animal rescues.”
In this economy, fundraising to meet community need is even more challenging. NJ Aid for Animals’ partnership with Animal Welfare Association (AWA) in Voorhees, NJ, is an example of rescue organizations coming together for the community and to support each other in a difficult economy. AWA is donating 100 vaccines and veterinary staff time, and is also bringing an ID tag machine to create “on-the-spot” engraved ID tags for pets. “The ID machine,” says Maya Richmond, Executive Director at AWA, “is ideal for this event because it will create an ‘instant tag’ and provides space on the ID tag for an owner’s home address. Phone numbers change, but the address is normally static. A collar and ID tag increase the chances of a lost pet being found and brought home.”
This new “layer” of an id tag for the dogs and cats in Camden City fits in nicely with the NJ Aid for Animals’ Community Pet Day and the Wellness Package offered there – also free or low-costs. At no-cost, residents’ dogs can be shaved and provided with a collar and leash or a kitty’s nails clipped and pet food (while supplies last) For a nominal sum, flea treatments are also available.
As if this isn’t enough another new partner is joining NJ Aid for Animals this year. Guardians of Rescue coming all the way from Long Island, NY are also joining this wonderful community event. Coming to lend their support in Camden City where there can never be enough help for the animals that live there, they are donating leashes AND a slice of pizza pie for everyone who brings a dog or cat to get its shot. What a wonderful way to introduce our new partner to the residents of Camden City.
This NJ Aid for Animals’ Community Pet Day is in keeping with the organization’s mission and the activities of its all-volunteer corps, led by McGuire. With its mission to prevent animal abuse and promote animals’ well-being through spay-neuter and other veterinary means, NJ Aid for Animals knocks on doors and transports city residents’ animals for spay-neuter procedures. There are no spay-neuter facilities in the city and many residents do not have transportation to get veterinary care for their pets. With NJAFA knocking on doors, providing transportation and their billboards and Animal Welfare Association providing low cost spay/neuter from grants they receive, it is a win win for the animals.
McGuire added, “NJ Aid for Animals has been transforming animals’ lives in Camden since 2005 and we want to become the standard-bearer for this type of program in Camden and similarly distressed communities. It is through partnering, collaborating, sharing services, donations and cooperation with other agencies that can serve the animals the best.”
For more information, contact Kathy McGuire at 856.498.3978 or visit www.njafa.org or info@njafa.org.
NJ Aid for Animals is a non-profit 501c3 tax-exempt, all volunteer organization with the mission to provide encourage spay and neuter, enrich every animals’ life they come in contact with, report abuse and seek justice.