oldbridgenjNOKILLshelter

WORLD ANIMAL DAY IS COMING OCTOBER 4TH

2006-08-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

This October, animal shelters, rescues and rescuers, schools, and places of worship will join to honor animals on World Animal Day. The annual event acknowledges the way in which domestic and wildlife animals enrich our lives.
Last year 38 countries hosted special events including pet aprades, pet parties and other types of celebrations. This event started in 1931. The first event was to draw attention to one endangered species.
The main website for this event is Naturewatch. Check out the stie and get back to us. Make sure to join in some celebration on October 4th.

evie litwok/ tippy/ the tippy story

MAYOR JIM PHILLIPS ,DEPUTY JACOBS FAIL ANIMAL SHELTER IN OLD BRIDGE NJ

2006-08-25T05:48:00.001-07:00

On July 13 volunteers from the Old Bridge Animal Shelter and other animal lovers met at the Old Bridge Library to give support for the animal shelter. Information leaked from Mayor Jim Phillips office prompted the meeting.
The leak was the Mayor's office planned to combine the shelter with other such services with neighboring towns.This 25 year old shelter had alot of supporters who adopted animals over the years. These people formed "Friends of the shelter".
A large group attended the town meeting on July 17,2006. Prior to the meeting Mayor Phillips approached me as I told me I was the spokeperson. After telling him I would make a statement representing the group, the town council asked me to make the statement early on the agenda. Following my statement, Mayor Phillips adamently denied all rumors. His second in command Jacobs, personally walked over to me and said to call him in the morning.
After I spoke, our group went out into the hallway followed by Mayor Phillips. He stood there and discussed varying points of view, his and ours. He assured everyone nothing would change. He repeated what he said earlier during the session, an expansion was palnned.
I called Jacobs office for three days before he returned my phone call. He faxed me a copy of the budget. I received this information on Friday July 21,2005.
It is August 25 and much has not happened in the last month. The Mayors office forbid the shelter to work with me. I was the delegated spokesperson and Jim Phillips obviously didn't want to deal with me. It was mentioned I did not live in Old Brigde. Apparently Phillips and Jacobs never heard of the Peace Corp.
Instead the Mayor gave the animal shelter a liason person of his chosing. To date the "Friends group" has prepared an exapnsion plan and other ideas. I called Jacobs several times and he never returned the phone call. Apparently, the Mayors concern during the town council meeting was to get good publicity for the TV and the Suburban. The article written about the meeting was entitled "Mayor Quells Rumors"
The disregard the mayor and Jacobs has shown for our volunteer group is clear. The volunteers will not ignore the Mayors disinterest in open dialogue. Instead we will build a coalition.
Mayor Jim Phillips is out of touch with the "animal loving people". In Holmdel, NJ, war dog memorial was recently unveiled. Holmdel is honoring those dogs who served in Worl War 1 and World War 11.
New York hospitals are organizing programs for people cant take take of their animals because they are in the hospital.The Patient Pet Care program is designed for animal owners. It's a first in the US.
The Old Bridge center is only alive and running due to the volunteers. There is only one staff person to handle 70-90 animals. If she gets sick, the animals can starve. The shelter is small and overcrowded. There are no sterile rooms, no office no reception area, no place for a family to play with an animal and dangerous conditions for the animals.
Jim PHillips is treating the shelter like the elderly programs years ago. The elderly were in horrible conditions. The public became aware and there is now more accountibility.
The growing love of animals and the "birth" of the acceptance of animals as family members is apparent. Mayor Phillips and deputy Jacobs were not sincere. They followed up the initial meeting by trying to put a wedge between the volunteer group and the animal shelter. In a time where other towns in NJ are building momuments, the Mayor is allowing for inhumane conditions for these animals.
Whatever the reason, it is not going unnoticed. The shelter has more cats than dogs. Perhaps the most telling comment the Mayor made after the town council meeting was he did not like cats. Thankfully he appears to like dogs. Why mention this to a group who loves all animals.
Regardless of the reason, the Mayor severed the ties with the "Friends group". I ask and we ask the public to join in the discussion to build a better shelter in Old Bridge.
evie litwok/ tippy/ the tippy story/ for "Friends of the shelter"

MAYOR JIM PHILLIPS ,DEPUTY JACOBS FAIL ANIMAL SHELTER IN OLD BRIDGE NJ

2006-08-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

Letlive.org Israel rescue group needs help for 8000 animals

2006-08-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

A spokesperson from letlive.org was on TV today begging for donations for food for the 8000 misplaced animals. They say conditions are hot, there is no water or food. A doantion of $35.00 would feed 50 dogs or cats. Please spread the word and offer assistance.

evie litwok tippy/thetippystory.com

oldbridge animal shelter needs adoptive parents for four legged furrys

2006-08-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

please consider adopting a shelter animal, loving homes are needed foe these poor creatures. older cats especially would love to go home with you. they are calm litter boxed trained and ready to give and receive love, give them a chance at happiness you will benifit too!

ob animal shelter

2006-07-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

the oldbridge animal shelter needs many improvements. the shelter is good because of the dedication of the animal control officer and the volunteers. it needs to be made larger to create a separate area for the cats so they are not looking out a cage and seeing a dog barking at them, living in a cage is stressful the township of oldbridge must do something to make the shelter great.

Friends of the Old Bridge Animal Center

2006-07-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

On July 17th, the "Friends" of the shelter packed the town meeting. I was approached by the Business Adminstrator, Mr. Jacobs, and asked to call him on Tuesday, July 18th.
I called Mr. Jacobs the next day, the day after and he finally returned the call on Friday, July 21st. The conversation was not really a dialogue. Mr. Jacobs "informed" me of "developments". He gleefully told me of a meeting for Tuesday, July 25th with Sonja Gunderson where the subject would be the expansion of the center. He reiterated Sonja's job would be full time and secure.
Mr. Jacobs went on to say all the things I believe he believed I wanted to hear. I was under the mistaken assumption the conversion would be a dialogue. I managed to say a few things to which he repeatedly responded "we know about that already".
I would have to describe this "conversation" as a token phone call designed to blow me off. There was no mention of wanting or needing any input from the group.
I was not suprised when Sonja was called the following Monday, July 24th and told the "spokesperson" had to be from Old Bridge. I thought it intereting Mr. Jacobs was under the false assumption that he or the Mayor could decide who should be or participate in an ad hoc group. I guess he hasn't noticed Bono working for African children. I know for a fact Bono does not live in Africa. I guess he also hasn't noticed Brad and Angelina working on issues in Afirca as well. They certainly do not live in Africa.
Mr. Jacobs and Mayor Phillips are incorrectly reading this situation. The group formed to help the shelter will continue to meet with or without their help.
As it turns out, the Tuesday meeting supposed to be about expansion was not about expansion. Expansion was not even mentioned. Sonja was assured of a full time instead of part time job. As she is working a 60-80 hour week, going from part to full time just gets her a reasonable pay. They had the nerve to ask her to do more work.
They also reiterated the "spokesperson" should be from Old Bridge and offered a paid position for a Liason from the Mayors office. Who needs a liason when the shelter needs staff. There is already a liason in place, the police officer who works with Sonja at the shelter. Is someone in the administration getting a nice job when the shelter needs 4 full time staff people. Is this administration expecting to keep the staus quo?
I guess if you are Mayor Jim Phillips or Mr Jacobs you might think you have powerto not respond to the needs of the animals! They both have forgotten they are in elected positions. As the spokesperson for the friends group, I can say with complete certainty, this adminsitration has a choice. They can help or not help the shelter.
I can also say with great certainty the Friends will watch to see what the administration does to help the shelter. In less than a week, the administration has lied twice. For me, its three strikes and your out. There wil be no picketting, no nasty behavior. The Friends group will instead focus on helping the shelter.
If the adminstration does what it plans to do with no input from the volunteers, the Friends or the lone staff person Sonja, we will look to the next election to put in a "pro animal"candidate. As I said in the Town Council meeting there is a national movement of "animal" lovers who intend to put forth a platform with regards to domestic animals. We will be looking for candidates who will help us achieve a better quality of life for our domestic animals.
Since "animal lovers represent 40% of any city's population, we are likely to be able in get alot of people involved in various communities. This administration was offered the opportunity to do the right thing. Within a week, they have bullied us and lied to me. Mr. Jacobs clearly said the meeting was about expansion. The metting had no mention of expansion.
I have no interest in disrupting Mayor Phillips or Mr. Jacobs's agenda. I will watch and see what they do. The "Friends" will work to create high visibility. We will try to know the coomunity of Old Bridge and let them know about us.

evie litwok, for "the tippy story" and spokesperson for the "Friends"

Freinds of Old Bridge Shelter Meet Mayor Phillips

2006-07-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

On Monday, July 17th, the Freinds of the Old Bridge No Kill Shelter, attended the Monday night Township Council meeting. The Mayor, Jim Phillips, and town council president came over to the group to find out who they were and why they were at the Town Council meeting.
The group was large and Evie Litwok, spokesperson for the group was allowed to speak to the Mayor and the Town Council. Ms. Litwok oulined some problems with the budget and the shelter. For example, the shelters budget of $30,000 was just about enough to pay for a year of catfood. Catfood costs $25,000. Add a little dog food into that and you have the shleters budget. This leaves the shelter with no one to open the cans.
Following her speech, the Mayor spoke to the group and assured them no plans had been made about the shelter.The mayor continued his discussions with the group outside the meeting room.
The publication, Suburban- Sayerville, NJ, published a story about the meeting. The title of the Front Page article is "Officials quell rumors about animal shelter"
According to the Mayor, the town is exploring options to improve kennels.
Townshship Business Administratoy Michael Jacobs asked Evie LItwok to call lhim to discuss the shelter. They were set to talk the next day

Friends of the Old Bridge No Kill Shelter, Nj forms

2006-07-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, July 13,2006 a meeting was held at the Old Bridge Library in response to"rumors" about Sayreville possibly taking oner Old Bridge's "no-kill" animal shleter.
The meeting was well attended by volunteers from the shelter and interested parties. The group decided it was necessary to find out the facts from Mayor Jim Phillips and the town council.Friends of the Old Bridge Animal Shelter was formed.
A spokesperson was designated and the plan was for all volunteers and friends of the shelter to appear at the next twon council meeting on Monday, July 17th.