Saving Animals feels so good

Nonprofit animal rescue group BARKS invites volunteers to join their one-of-a-kind family of people and pets, finding new places for furry faces to call home

 

BYRAM, NJ Every family who has ever welcomed a dog or cat in their home with love knows that each pet is as beloved as a child of the family. Natural comforts, the animals in our life help us to see the best in the world and sometimes fill a void in our hearts. Unfortunately not all animals arrive in loving homes directly. Some are born wild, others are manipulated or abused, and many are abandoned. It takes volunteers with organizations such as the Byram Animal Rescue Kindness Squad (BARKS) to nurse these animals back to health and help them find their way to new, more caring homes.   

 

When Volunteer Coordinator Judy Lofgren wanted to adopt two more cats, her husband visited BARKS President Sheryl Thole’s “kittyhouse”. “He brought home two female kittens after being touched by Sheryl’s dedication. She knew every cat and kitten, their history, and their temperament,” said Lofgren. Fundraising Coordinator Cheryl Montelone had a similar experience. “It never occurred to me that there was a need for someone to play and give love and attention to the animals while they were waiting to be adopted,” said Montelone. “Now I visit them every Friday evening. They are an extension of my family.”  

 

The activities of BARKS on behalf of the animals are quite varied, with adoption days commonly held at local pet stores being the most visible effort. But many volunteers also work behind the scenes, helping to clean to pound, fostering pets in their homes, nursing animals back to health, taking care of spaying, neutering, and other veterinary care, visiting the animals and helping them to trust people again, transferring animals from out-of-state kill shelters to loving foster homes and then forever homes, and more. Volunteers are also central to the general operations of the organization, connecting pets with families through PetFinder.com and the BARKS Web site at www.barksinc.com, raising funds and collecting toys and pet care products from the community, and raising awareness about the benefits of spaying and neutering in controlling the pet population, keeping animals in shelters to a minimum.

 

Even families who don’t have the ability to volunteer weekly can contribute to the BARKS semi-annual garage sales, held at Wild West City in Byram during April and October and led by volunteer Lois Koch, or attend the BARKS annual event at the Tea Hive. In-kind items are welcome year-round for these events, which provide the majority of funding for BARKS activities throughout the year. Koch says, “The BARKS volunteers are the most wonderful assortment of people you would ever hope to find. Everyone has his or her own talent to contribute, and we embrace them all.”

 

Animal rescue is certainly an emotional mission, and every volunteer finds a way to contribute that allows for the right level of connection for them. “It can be heart-breaking to see the number of abandoned animals we take in, animals whose condition reflects the lack of regard their previous owner had for them. Some people treat pets as though they are disposable and can survive on their own,” said volunteer Darlene O’Connell, “But when we have a chance to change the life of that animal by placing them with a new family, and we get to see how happy the new owners are to have their perfect pet, it warms the heart.”

 

Through the passionate dedication of BARKS volunteers, every animal is a success. Volunteer Patty McGuigan relayed the story of Jackson, a pit bull that arrived covered in mange, a condition that requires an arduous healing process that many shelters would not suffer. “The treatment involved smelly sulfur baths several times a week,” said Patty. “By the end of each treatment, it was hard to tell who got more of the medicine, the dog or the volunteer. But we rallied the volunteers and instead of being put down, Jackson was saved. I was proud to be part of the effort and enjoy Jackson’s sweet disposition.”

 

BARKS cares for more than 450 pets every year, with a total of 350 animals being adopted in 2006. Making that connection is what motivates each volunteer to continue.

 

Those of us that love animals find it difficult to be separated from them. We can’t imagine our lives without them. And just when we think our home can’t possibly accommodate another, we take in one more stray or adopt one more member into the family. Like parents who foster children, we can’t imagine leaving them behind.

 

If you are interested in joining the BARKS family as a volunteer, contact Judy Lofgren at 973-525-7272 or go to www.barksinc.com and click on Volunteer.  Volunteers are especially needed in the areas of animal care, dog adoptions, cat socialization, animal transportation, and fundraising.  The only risk?  Falling in love with an animal that you just have to bring home. 

 

Donations are also welcome (and fully tax deductible). They can be mailed to BARKS at PO Box 593, Stanhope, NJ 07874 or given electronically by clicking Donate Now on the BARKS Web site.  As little as $20 can help feed a cat or kitten for one month. A $120 donation will provide complete veterinary care for a cat, with $205 providing the same care for a dog.