South Jersey Magazine - Marlton / Medford - Issue #6 (September 2019)

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SJM_Impact_0919FINAL_Dept 8 / 29 / 19 4 : 07 PM Page 1 A VOORHEES safety and to align with its mission . That ANIMAL S J M | I M P A C T campaign has since been raised to $ 1.6 ORPHANAGE EMPLOYEE million , and they have raised about $ 1.2 MOVES million to date . ANIMALS I INTO THE “ Our mission is to save lives , plain PHASE 1 and simple , ” Bailey says . “ Our mission is WING . to shelter unwanted animals and pro - vide them with food , medical care and attention , and a temporary shelter until we can find their forever home . ” Phase 1 was completed last month , which includes 42 dog kennels that are a minimum 50 percent larger than the standard kennels in the old building . When the entire building is completed , in addition to the dog kennels , it will include a dog training room , an office and mechanical room . VAO is completing the building in two phases because of the con - stant number of strays coming from towns all over South Jersey . “ We are your local municipal animal shelter for 22 towns in South Jersey — 16 of which are in Camden A Pawsitive County — and are contractually oblig - ated to take in strays and surrenders from those towns , ” Bailey says . “ Animals still keep coming and we had to figure Future out how to optimize impact during con - struction since it’s at the same location . ” THE VOORHEES ORPHANAGE AND ANIMAL WELFARE Additionally , it works with rescue ASSOCIATION HAVE SAVED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS groups across the country , more so in ANIMALS AND ARE LOOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY’S the southern part of the country where HELP TO CONTINUE EACH OTHER’S MISSION . there are higher kennel areas and house by Julie Shannon them until they are adopted . While the VAO receives a monthly ENNIFER BAILEY SAYS SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT A NEW BUILDING for stipend to cover the care of the animals the Voorhees Animal Orphanage ( VAO ) 10 long years ago . As grateful as she and from those towns , the only other income the folks at the VAO are for inheriting the building and land they currently have J it receives on a regular basis is adoption called home for 31 years , it has been rundown and in poor shape for quite some time . fees , which Bailey says fluctuates . “ We fundraise to keep our lights on . Literally you can see daylight through the “ We rely on the generosity of sup - building — it’s that old and inefficient , ” she says . “ With the help of many wonderful porters , ” Bailey says . “ While we do have supporters , we’ve been able to patch up and fix things , but it’s still a hindrance to the financing in place , it obviously would be animals . We knew the time was now to get started . ” in our best interest if it was completely That now was three years ago when VAO launched its $ 1 million capital campaign paid for . We are still fundraising . ” to fund the construction of a new building that is desperately needed for the animals ’ A few minutes away also in Voorhees is the Animal Welfare RENDERING OF ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION’S Association ( AWA ) , an animal shelter NEW BUILDING . that’s been around for 71 years . Like VAO , AWA has always been committed to helping save animals ’ lives across Camden County , and executive director Maya Richmond says that commitment has gotten stronger over the last few years — especially when it comes to the save rate for dogs . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 6 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 62 |

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SJM_Impact_0919FINAL_Dept 8 / 29 / 19 5 : 07 PM Page 2 GROUNDBREAKING OF VOORHEES ANIMAL ORPHANAGE’S NEW FACILITY . community . AWA’s capital campaign “ When I started , transporting dogs is $ 2.5 million and it has raised around from Philadelphia or the South wasn’t $ 1.6 million thus far . Richmond calls happening as much , but now the save the new space “ more than a building . ” rate for dogs has been one of the most “ It’s a place where happiness begins , ” amazing things to watch , ” Richmond she says . “ We’re redefining what people says . “ Dogs that were 8 and 9 were too think an animal shelter has . The old to be adopted , but now we’re able to building is focused on being a resource provide veterinary care and taking care in the community — having community of other issues related to [ older ] age meetings where we involve the public , and they are going into homes . It’s which we need space for . And it will be remarkable . larger space for the animals — 1,000 “ Our mission is to eliminate animal more animals will be saved a year . ” suffering and promote the human - Both organizations have events animal bond , ” Richmond continues . coming up that are open to the public . “ We save pets ’ lives by touching people’s VAO’s 23rd annual Woofstock Festival hearts . To me , that’s what’s special about takes place Sept . 28 ( rain date is Sept . 29 ) our approach . We look to bring people at the Voorhees Town Center and is the together and include them in our daily organization’s biggest annual fundraiser . work . We deliver unique programs to Bailey says the festival usually gets three save pets ’ lives , care for animals , keep to four thousand people , and you don’t them safe , reduce the pet overpopula - have to be an animal lover . Food trucks tion and work with programs in our will be in attendance , along with dog community that directly lower eutha - demonstrations courtesy of the Camden nization , lower the impound rate and County Sheriff’s Deputy K9 Unit and up build a passionate community . ” to 100 vendors ranging from arts and One of those programs is the AWA crafts to pet - related vendors . partnering with agencies that specialize “ All of the proceeds go to the capital in helping people with special needs , campaign , ” Bailey says . including those who have physical and Also Sept . 28 , the AWA has an adop - mental disabilities . tion event where all adoption fees are “ Those individuals help the animals waived . The following month its popular in many ways — they make dog toys and Trunk or Treat event takes place Oct . 26 . grow vegetables and herbs for rabbits . … “ Children dress up and get Hal - The love of animals shines through and loween candy and bring together their it creates healing and warmth you would love of putting pets in costumes and not believe . These individuals feel good doing pet parades and trick or treat at about what they are doing and parents cars decorated by our volunteers , ” Rich - call us saying it’s changed their lives and mond says . “ We’ll have crafts , music and they have a purpose to get up in the doggy treats as well . It’s all about con - morning , ” Richmond says . n necting with the community . ” The one setback is lack of space . Richmond says the AWA can only have these individuals and others at certain Animal Welfare Association hours in the morning because there’s 509 Centennial Blvd . | Voorhees not enough space . But also like VAO , the ( 856 ) 424 - 2288 | AWANJ.org AWA has its own capital campaign to build a brand - new building that will not Voorhees Animal Orphanage only create much needed room for 419 Cooper Road | Voorhees workers and volunteers , and of course ( 856 ) 627 - 9111 | VAONJ.org the animals , it will be a resource in the SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE VOLUME 16 ISSUE 6 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 63

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