Princeton Animal Shelter Launches Campaign to Fund Costs, Expansion

Matthew Hersh

SAVE, the long-time animal shelter located on Herrontown Road, has launched a capital expansion program this fall and has completed plans for a new building, expanded facilities, and improved services. This project required the not-for-profit organization to launch its capital expansion program.

The new proposed facility will include more adequate spaces for humans and animals to interact. The improved rehabilitation and holding areas, enhanced adoption and training areas, and space for programs will serve the needs of the animals that come into the shelter and those who adopt from SAVE, according to Sara Nicolls, executive director of SAVE.

Ms. Nicolls said that concrete spatial plans have not yet been confirmed, and will not be available until a formal construction application is submitted to the Township.

"People will be pleased with the plans we come up with. It's an old structure," Ms. Nicolls said of the shelter's current Herrontown Road facility, which was built in 1971 and renovated in 1997.

The $5 million campaign also includes technological advances such as on-site spay and neutering facilities. Currently, a veterinarian visits and examines the animals on-site, but the animals have to be transported to a different facility for surgical procedures. Ms. Nicolls said that the shelter "desperately needs" more dedicated rehabilitation spaces for its animals.

"We'll be doing a lot of the same things we're doing now, just a lot more efficiently," Ms. Nicolls said.

Demand for a larger facility is commensurate with an expanding greater-Princeton area said the SAVE executive director. The shelter's coverage area includes acquiring strays and abandoned animals from Princeton Township and Borough, West Windsor, and Plainsboro. SAVE currently brings in approximately 1,100 animals per year, about 60 percent of which are strays. The shelter also brings animals in from other shelters in Montgomery, Lawrence, Hopewell, and Trenton.

Ms. Nicolls said that one of the goals of SAVE is to increase the amount of adoptions from animal shelters. She cited the statistic that an estimated 20 percent of animals in U.S. households were adopted from shelters, a number Ms. Nicolls would like to see rise. She cited a negative public stigma toward shelters that paints a bleak picture of animals in cages. Improved facilities would create a more "natural environment" in which animals can socialize with each other and humans for improved levels of interaction.

SAVE currently practices socializing methods, but Ms. Nicolls stressed that a larger complex would be an appropriate solution to a greater number of animals coming in to the shelter.

"People need to know that there are numerous animals waiting for homes, and we want to create an environment where people can see the animals in a natural setting," she said.

This year's capital campaign has been launched to help maintain SAVE's current facilities and to raise money for the proposed expansion. Bernadette Suski Harding, who is in charge of campaign publicity, said the campaign consists of a mailing seeking contributions toward the $550,000 operating budget and additional funds for the expansion. About two-thirds of the operating budget amount comes from the shelter's annual campaign, Ms. Harding said.

The campaign is also used to help fund the shelter's growing Humane Education Program. The program was implemented to recruit volunteers who work with urban school children in Trenton to teach animal care and to help dispel the fear of animals.

"We mailed an invitation to join SAVE as a supporter to people who have adopted from the shelter, but are not members. It's a pretty widespread mailing," Ms. Harding said. "We're happy with any donation we can get."

When an animal comes to SAVE, it costs approximately $320 for each animal, Ms. Harding said. The costs are typically flat rates because all animals are spayed or neutered, treated for worms, and are subjected to surgical procedures, specialized treatment, or extensive rehabilitation if necessary. The cost also includes basic vaccinations and medical care.

Ms. Harding said that she first became involved with SAVE through a similar campaign. She adopted a Golden Retriever from the shelter and was "taken aback by the care" that SAVE gave to the animals individually.

SAVE, or the Small Animal Veterinary Endowment, was founded in 1941 by Cornelia Jaynes and Emily Myrick. It began as the Princeton Small Animal Rescue League that housed stray animals in various veterinary facilities or on farms while finding the animals permanent homes.

The current facility on Herrontown Road was built in 1971 on Dr. Jaynes' property. The organization has practiced a "no kill" charter unless the animal has been subjected to such extenuating circumstances that euthanasia is the only option left.