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Zone 17
No. 13 Vol. 7
www.mypaperonline.com
April 11, 2017
Non-Profit Pet Rescue Provides Responsive, Hassle Free Experience
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By Cheryl Conway fter 40 years of rescuing pets, a Fairfield woman is partnering with another animal rescuer in Cedar Grove and together they have formed a new 501c3 pet rescue organization to save animals whether lost, unwanted or awaiting a new home. Recently established on Feb. 10, 2017, Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch is a new local organization dedicated to rescuing animals, mostly dogs and cats, in need of rehabilitation, fostering and adoption. Rosemarie Cafiero, a resident of Fairfield for more than 50 years, and Susan Paige of Cedar Grove have joined forces to open the “new pet rescue in town.” Rescuing since 1977, Cafiero founded Orphaned Pets in West Caldwell in 1990, serving as its president for 26 years. Paige had joined Cafiero in her animal rescuing efforts 10
years ago, when she had adopted her first dog from her through Orphaned Pets. While Orphaned Pets is still in existence, the two decided to branch off and establish their own non-profit. They resigned from the Orphaned Pets board of directors in Dec. 2016 to start anew. “We had a different vision of how we wanted to run an organization,” says Paige, president of Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch. “To make it simple for qualified families. Rosemarie and I always worked together. Our vision was always the same.” Many rescue groups require certain approvals and home visits, but at Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch “we rely solely on our gut. We can feel when it’s a good family; we look in their eyes. We can do a trial. We wanted to make it an easier process. “We trust our instincts,” she continues. “We ask
questions and listen. A pet can be adopted right away from us, we know people, we can read their body language. We make our decisions based on our gut in the best interest of the animals.” They wanted their “own rescue; where folks feel comfortable, where we put volunteers first and create a rewarding and fulfilling environment for our volunteers and for kids who want to help also,” says Paige. Being responsive is also a priority at Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch. “The greatest complaint we have heard over the years is that rescues are non-responsive, that it takes forever for a call back or a returned email, that the pre-approval process takes forever, that is so hard to get anyone to listen. We modeled our new group to be exactly the opposite. We return phone calls and emails and inquiries right away.
At Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch, animals come in from kill shelters. Most of the animals are dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, as well as an occasional bunny rabbit, says Paige. “We bring them into our homes and show them love,” says Paige. “We go down to the AHS [Associated Humane Societies] in Newark to pull rescues,” as well as a lot of litters and kittens. “They do nice courtesy transports. They try very hard to find families,” to avoid euthanizing especially when overcrowding occurs. “We try to find families,” says Paige, adding that they also get animals from down south from The Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society. “Our mission is simple: Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Rehome the Relinquished,” Paige says. “Our motto is even simpler: “A happy place to adopt your new best friend.”
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A group of about 25 local volunteers act as fosters to provide homes for the animals until a family is identified for adoption, as well as helping at adoption events or picking up donations. Foster families, “during that time they rehabilitate, give them love and attention.” “We are all fosters so we operate out of our own homes,” says Paige. Volunteers are spread out in areas including Verona, West Caldwell, Franklin Lakes, Mendham, Chatham, Fairfield. Foster families, including the children ages 12
to 16, are also mentored through Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch. “We encourage children to get involved,” says Paige, like to hold a leash or a puppy at an adoption event or to even raise funds to benefit the animals. A group of fourth grade girls at the Gould School in North Caldwell recently donated $234 for the animal shelter raised through a bake sale. “We love working with the kids; their eyes are so wide,” says Paige. Efforts are also made at some local venues that leave a box out to collect continued on page 2