HUDSON COUNTY — Where to house stray animals has become a national problem over the years, as during the recession, more pets have been abandoned, and fewer people have been financially able to adopt new pets. In Hudson County, the problem has reached severe levels, with one shelter closed two years ago by the state, and others experiencing major controversies.
Two years ago, the state closed the SPCA shelter in Jersey City after state inspections showed unsanitary conditions. The pets were brought to a shelter in Jersey City founded by volunteers, the Liberty Humane Society. However, that shelter has seen vicious arguments between activists and its leaders over its euthanasia policies. While the shelter has been trying to overcome those problems over the last year, its latest shelter manager resigned last month, forcing them to again search for new leadership.
Several towns have tried to find ways to care for their animals on their own. Secaucus built its own animal shelter several years ago. Hoboken and Jersey City contract with Liberty Humane, and several of North Hudson’s towns have relied on independent contractors. Right now, North Bergen and West New York are relying on a man who was the subject last week of complaints by animal activists who contacted the Reporter. The same contractor was also recently hired in Bayonne. The Reporter is running a story on that controversy on the cover of the North Bergen and West New York editions this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Reporter received a letter to the editor, which will be published this weekend in the Jersey City edition, from a woman whose cat was accidentally put to sleep in a local shelter over a year ago.
Who is the best person to handle the county’s strays? And how? Read the papers in North Bergen, West New York, Jersey City, and Secaucus this Sunday for related stories, or come back here to hudsonreporter.com starting on Sunday and scroll down to stories for those towns.
An ongoing dilemma: What should Hudson County do with its stray animals?
