…Friendly Homes Needed
By Tom Dwyer
 It’s a dog’s life…and a cat’s life too for that matter …here in Hudson County. Over the last decade, a whole new industry dedicated to pet comfort has sprung up: a boutique industry of dog and cat spas, professional dog walkers, holistic veterinarians, and even a special Mass in Hoboken that bestows yearly blessings on pets. But for every lucky pet that has a home, there are still those unfortunate creatures living on the street or in a shelter.  Thankfully many Hudson County shelters and animal lovers are working hard to make sure every home finds the pet that’s right for them. It’s not just good for the animals; after all, it’s a medical fact that having a pet is good for one’s body and spirit.     Â
Tragedy Not To Be Repeated
 On June 20th a grisly discovery was made when 15 animal carcasses were found in an unplugged freezer in the recently closed Hudson County SPCA located on Johnson Street in Jersey City. This horror not only took the lives of innocent animals, it also cast a shadow on other well-run organizations that care for animals in Hudson County, including two of the most respected, the Hudson County Animal League www.hcalnj.org and the Liberty Animal Shelter www.libertyanimalshelterpetfinder.org both located in Jersey City. Aurora Piacenpino, the manager of the Liberty Animal Shelter, admits that the incident at the SPCA shelter initially damaged the reputation of other shelters. “A lot of the public is unclear exactly which shelter the incident happened in. And when a story like this comes to light it makes our job harder. But in respect to this SPCA incident we have had an overwhelming positive response from the public with donations and adopting pets—a huge response.â€Â Â
Continue reading July Cover Story-Hudson County Cats and Dogs