Compassion in Action
Feeling sorry about animal abuse and animal neglect does not help a single abused or neglected animal. True compassion demands action, and that’s why The Associated Humane Societies has been a cornerstone of animal welfare in the state of New Jersey since its foundation in 1906. We are not just about animal shelters, though the sanctuary and care of animals of all kinds is central to our mission. AHS has been dedicated to the advancement of medical 
care and overall well-being of animals in some of the most underserved communities in our state — those with devastating poverty rates and extremely limited resources.  Now, to better serve our communities, we are renovating…and expanding.

We want to share with you the exciting news with a few details…
Our Newark Public Clinic Renovation will benefit the animals not only in our shelter but in the Newark community at large. And we need your help.

A little background...
In 2016, we were forced to shut down our public clinic due to building structural issues. While AHS serves the entire state of New Jersey through our three shelters in Northern, Central and Southern NJ, our renovation project specifically impacts Newark in Northern NJ. The animals in our city are often neglected and seldom receive proper veterinary care due to lack of funds and resources. Providing 
these lifesaving, low-cost services to our neighborhood will not only improve their overall quality of life but reduce the number of animals surrendered to our shelter — and the number of heartbroken families and individuals forced to part with a beloved companion. Remember, every surrendered pet represents a 
broken family

We’re seeking funding assistance to renovate our clinic space to be able to accept our community animals who include owned pets, feral cats (the TNR program) and wildlife. The demand for a brick-and-mortar clinic is felt especially through our Mobile Clinic. Each day we receive an average of 40 calls requesting appointments for both surgeries and wellness visits.

The Mobile Clinic is currently booked out about two months in advance. Approximately 40% of our Mobile Clinic clients come from Newark, followed by Carteret, Elizabeth and Linden. The current medical facility dates back 40 years. The renovation will include the relocation of the cat isolation rooms, the construction of a new surgical suite with separate rooms for x-rays and dental cleanings as well as two examination rooms. 

Building a Better Tomorrow...
Our community room will provide a home for our humane education program, a space to offer workshops for animal welfare best practices, host shelter events — and so much more. It is essential that we teach children and adolescents how to treat animals with kindness. Over 46% of incarcerated inmates have committed acts of 
animal cruelty in adolescence. Humane education aims at the heart of animal cruelty and neglect, so that we are not doomed year after tragic year to just treat its consequences. By inviting children and teens into our shelter and showing them how to properly interact with animals, we plant and nurture the seeds of kindness and compassion in the youngest of our citizens, creating as it were a garden where the weeds of cruelty have no room to flourish.

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