Organizations Team up to Reduce Pet Homelessness in Central New Jersey

PetSmart Charities®, Eleventh Hour Rescue to open new pet adoption center

Homeless pets living in Mt. Olive will have a better chance of finding a loving home thanks to a partnership between Eleventh Hour Rescue and nonprofit PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of companion animal-welfare efforts in North America.  The two have teamed up with support from PetSmart, Inc. to open a pet-adoption center inside the PetSmart® store in Mt. Olive, N.J.

The new adoption center will free up kennel space at Eleventh Hour Rescue’s main shelter location and allow adoptable pets to live in a new pet-friendly venue until they are adopted into lifelong homes. 

“These enhanced adoption centers provide homeless pets with a comfortable shelter before they find their forever homes,” said Susana Della Maddalena, vice president and executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.  “By collaborating with strong animal-welfare organizations like Eleventh Hour Rescue, we are able to promote pet adoptions and reduce euthanasia rates in local communities.”

Officially opening on Saturday, Nov. 19, the new adoption center will occupy 1,864 square feet that is being converted inside the store. PetSmart Charities is funding 100 percent of the build-out costs, and PetSmart is not charging Eleventh Hour Rescue any rent. Eleventh Hour Rescue will staff the adoption center, which will house more than 35 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. About 20 pets are expected to be adopted from the new adoption center location every week.

“Our partnership with PetSmart Charities will benefit thousands of cats and dogs by bringing them out into the community where they can find new, loving homes,” said Linda Schiller, founder and president, Eleventh Hour Rescue. “We’ve seen the successes PetSmart Charities has achieved in other communities and look forward to the opportunity to improve adoption rates in our area too.”

Every year about 8 million pets end up in shelters across the United States, and 4 million are euthanized because they are not adopted. The Mt. Olive enhanced adoption center is part of a nationwide initiative from PetSmart Charities with the goal of saving more homeless pets. Since May 2010, PetSmart Charities has helped save over 3,700 pets by opening similar adoption centers in Texas, Arizona, Delaware, Wisconsin, Colorado, Kentucky and Idaho.

Grand Opening Information:

• When:  Saturday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m.
• Where:  PetSmart store, 50 International Dr South, Mt. Olive
• Activities:  Festivities begin with presentations and a ribbon cutting. Shelter tours will be available and pet adoptions will continue all day.
• Presenters include:  Linda Schiller, founder and president, Eleventh Hour Rescue
• Special guest, Daniel, the "Miracle Dog" will be present to encourage people to adopt and save the life of a homeless pets. Read Daniel's store at http://bit.ly/danielstory.

About the Facility:
The adoption center will be open seven days a week during the store’s operating hours. Amenities include:

• Kennels for adult dogs, puppies and small dogs
• Cat adoption center
• Play areas for dogs awaiting adoption
• Meet‐and‐greet areas for prospective adopters and their families to get acquainted with the pet(s) they want to take home

Related Link

About Eleventh Hour Rescue

Eleventh Hour Rescue is a registered 501C(3), nonprofit, no-kill, volunteer organization dedicated to saving the lives of innocent dogs on death row. When finding a loving home for one of our dogs, we make a promise to them before they leave. While they will never be replaced in our hearts, a new life will take their place in our homes.  Since our inception in 2003, we have filled that promise a thousand times over. To learn more about Eleventh Hour Rescue, visit www.ehrdogs.org or call 973-664-0865.