VOORHEES, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — One of Camden County’s three animal shelters opened brand new headquarters in Voorhees, giving its furry tenants a better place as they await their forever homes.
Voorhees Animal Orphanage takes in dogs and cats from 26 South Jersey towns, 19 in Camden County. This no-kill shelter takes no state or county money and the towns pay only to drop the animals off. That, along with donations large and small, have kept the place in business.
“We are what you call an open intake shelter for those municipalities,” VAO board chairman David Semless told KYW Newsradio. “So those dogs are coming to us whether you got it from here, there or anywhere. We put it in our care, reunite you with your animal or get it adopted whatever the situation may be.”
And over their 30-plus years in business, they’ve helped thousands of animals. The new $1.6 million facility provides larger pens for 68 dogs and cats inside a no kill facility with separate areas for each and improved climate and ventilation controls.
There are other facilities like Homeward Bound in Gloucester Township and the Animal Adoption Center in Lindenwold that receive county assistance.
“Everybody’s got a slightly different mission,” said marketing director Jennifer Bailey. ”I would say if you were going to ask why the Voorhees Animal Orphanage, I would say because we take the animals that nobody wants. We get them adoptable and we find them their forever homes.”
But the shelter needs a little help as well. They still have a $350,000 debt to be mortgage-free. There are a number of ways you can help. You can click here to connect to their website for various ways to assist in their fundraising efforts.