By Amy Batista, Special Writer
WESTAMPTON — Veterans can now participate in giving animals a new home through an ongoing Pets for Vets program at the Burlington County Animal Shelter.
The Burlington County Animal Shelter, 35 Academy Dr., Westampton, has approximately 100 dogs and 150 cats available for adoption.
The Pets for Vets program allows for all county veterans to adopt a dog or cat free of charge.
Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders Mary Ann O’Brien launched the Pets for Vets program last year.
”She thought it was a great way too not only to get rid of some of the animals at the animal shelter but to also get them to go to good homes to people that have served the country and who are looking for a companion or a pet,” said Holly Cucuzzella, an assistant health officer at the Burlington County Animal Shelter.
The Pets for Vets program was instituted in November and veterans have been taking advantage of it, according to Ms. Cucuzzella.
”We do get vets coming in looking for animals, which is good,” Ms. Cucuzzella said. “(They) can be active duty, retired or whatever the case may be.”
The Pets for Vets program was established to “thank” veterans for their service to America. It is sponsored through the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Burlington Health Department and Burlington County Animal Shelter.
It is not a no-kill facility, and dogs and cats at the Burlington County Animal Shelter are euthanized due to overcrowding, or if an animals are unwell or old, or if the animals deemed unsuitable for adoption. It also euthanizes cats if feral, or not part of its trap-neuter-release program.
”We want to provide a healthy, clean and humane animal facility for strays and surrendered animals in a place that people can come back to reclaim their animals as well,” Ms. Cucuzzella said. She noted that, “We really want to provide the best for the welfare of the animals.”
On Aug. 20, Ms. Cucuzzella said that the Burlington County Animal Shelter was “pretty much at capacity, which is not uncommon for this time of year.”
She said, “Typically, we do see a rise in the spring and summer months with kittens coming in.”
Ms. Cucuzzella said different kinds of breed of dogs can be found at the Burlington County Animal Shelter from pit bulls and American Staffordshire terriers to white German Shepherds, Saint Bernards.
”We are interested in having all of our animals adopted out but what we tend to find it that most people like the puppies and the kittens and we do have a lot of middle-age and senior dogs that are wonderful dogs that may have been surrendered for one reason or another, economic hardships or somebody moving and can’t take care of the animal anymore,” Ms. Cucuzzella said.
She said, “We try to make sure the animal is the best fit for that person adopting.”
Ms. Cucuzzella urged people with animals to spay and neuter them to help prevent the shelters from becoming more over populated.
”Get your pets spayed or neutered if they aren’t already because it really does help us cut down on the number of animals coming into the shelter and make sure that all animals are up-to-date on their rabies shots — that is especially important,” Ms. Cucuzzella said.
Noteworthy, there are volunteer opportunities at the shelter for people who are interested — and donations are also always welcomed.
”People can volunteer to walk dogs and volunteer to play with cats or if people don’t have time to do that and want to drop off old newspapers or pillowcases, we would be happy to take some of that material as well,” Ms. Cucuzzella said.
The volunteers who work at the shelter are known as the Friends of Burlington County Animal Shelter — and folks play different roles in taking care of the animals.
”It’s been very rewarding for me,” Dee Curry, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, told the Register-News on Sept. 3. “I love dogs and just so happy that I can give them training to help make them a member of someone’s family. When any of us volunteers hear that one of these dogs have found a forever home, it’s an unbelievable feeling. I think I speak for most of the volunteers. We love the dogs and cats so much, it’s our way to give back. If we could take the mall home we sure would.”
Volunteer Trudy Brandt, of Lumberton, explained that she still finds it a “rewarding” experience through the “tears of joy and tears of sadness,” that it brings.
”The love of dogs inspired me to volunteer,” Ms. Brandt said on Labor Day. “It is rewarding knowing I could help to make their life a little better during their stay at the shelter.”
Katrina Kates, of Edgewater Park, volunteers two nights a week socializing cats at the shelter.
”That means I get to play with, hold and pet the cats. It is wonderful to see when a cat comes in traumatized and afraid and we can get the cat starting to trust people and actually wants to be social with us,” Ms. Kates said on Monday.
For more information about pets available for adoption visit www.petfinder.com/shelters/NJ148.html.
To learn more about the Vets for Pets program, contact the Burlington County Animal Shelter at 609-265-5073.

