Community Corner

Hurricane Irene: Animals Being Evacuated From Bloomingdale Shelter

BASS President said animals will be evacuated before storm is expected to hit New Jersey Sunday.

Between 150 and 200 animals that are currently housed at the will be evacuated beginning this afternoon and continuing until Saturday afternoon.

Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) President Ellen Ribitzki said all of the animals will be out of the shelter before Sunday.

"We're doing a complete evacuation," she said Thursday.

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Ribitzki said many of the animals will be held in foster homes but others will be transported to Stonehill Farm Kennel in New Foundland.

"They helped us during the last six evacuations," Ribitzki said of Stonehill. "There were three in March this year and three last year."

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Kinnelon Animal Shelter, part of not being evacuated as of 3:15 p.m. Thursday and the Butler Animal Shelter (also currently affiliated with Tri-boro Animal Welfare) was unavailable for comment.

Ribitzki said the Bloomingdale shelter decided to evacuate early because they did not want to take any chances.

"We can't take the chance. Last time there was 2 feet of water, this time, I don't know where it's going to end up."

Additionally, BASS is taking precautions to protect the animal food inside the shelter, as well as a large shipment of cat litter that came in Wednesday. If the litter gets wet, Ribitzki said, it is likely to be too heavy to be moved.


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