At Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association, the dogs and cats don’t usually arrive or leave in pairs.

No, the name of this Ledgewood, NJ-based zero-kill rescue and shelter comes from the name of its first location — the basement of a thrift store called Noah’s Nook and Cranny. “We were started by a group of little old ladies in tennis shoes,” says Roger Messick, executive director of the 42-year-old Noah’s Ark.

From a small group of little old ladies in tennis shoes, the organization has grown significantly. In the late 1970’s, Noah’s Ark moved into a former breeding kennel, where it is still located today. Last year, it adopted out 700 dogs and cats, with an expected 800 to 1000 to be adopted this year. Says Messick: “All of the animals that have come in our door, we’ve never euthanized a cat or dog.”

Halo is certainly impressed with Noah’s Ark record, and donated 91 cases of Spot’s Stew for dogs earlier this year, which fed the approximately 30 to 35 dogs the rescue has at one time.

“We met a number of Noah’s Ark’s volunteers, staff, and four-legged guests – they are just the sort of exemplary, independent local shelter we like to support,” says Halo’s David Yaskulka, “doing inspirational work for animals and the people who love them.”

The dogs were happy that Halo chose Noah’s Ark for their Spot’s Stew. “All of them liked it. We had a few dogs who appeared to be finicky and we were able to get some of them to eat with the Halo,” says Messick, noting the Spot’s Stew lasted a month. “The food was very nutritious.”

The abandoned animals who land at Noah’s Ark sometimes include puppies from out of state. “There are not enough puppies in our area,” he says. “We’re working with places in Kentucky with an overabundance of puppies, who would be euthanized down there, and we’re adopting them out of our facility.”

Recently, 16 dogs ended up at Noah’s Ark who were rescued from horrendous conditions in the Midwest. One, a Min Pin (or miniature pinscher), just had four puppies who will be available for adoption in mid-August, along with their mom.

For more information on the many pets available visit Noah’s Ark, at www.noahsarknj.org

This entry was posted on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 11:15 am and is filed under Giving Back. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.