Purr-fect Habitat Made Available for Homeless Cats in Kinnelon

Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter to showcase adoptable cats at Petco.

Adoptable cats being fostered by the Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society have made a permanent home of Petco in Kinnelon, according to Suburban Trends. The cat habitat will be available for interested families to see and visit with cats from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with the exception of Sundays when they will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society organization has not yet found a permanent home itself after breaking ties with the Borough of Bloomingdale last year.

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Summer Kickoff Showcases Adoptable Pets

BASS held event at Kosco Harley-Davidson.

The Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) held its Kick Off to Summer event on Saturday to showcase some of the many adoptable pets available. The event was held in partnership with Kosco Harley-Davidson. It was the second North Shore Animal League rescue van event at the dealership. BASS said a dog and cat were adopted, with several pre-adoptions also taken. One of the animals still waiting for adoption is Kanella, who is pictured in this article. He was surrendered to BASS when his family’s circumstances changed. Kanella is neutered, up to date on vaccinations and well behaved. Also waiting for a home is Bastion, a 4-month-old Jack Russel terrier puppy who thought posing as a cat in a litter box might get him a home faster…

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BASS Rescinds Bid, Discussion to be Held Tuesday

BASS still considering other locations.

The Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) has taken the first step in possibly negotiating an agreement with the Borough of Bloomingdale by rescinding its bid on a five-year contract that would have given them $31,500 per year. On Tuesday, the Bloomingdale Council will discuss how they would like to move forward with animal sheltering services for the borough and if they would like to negotiate with BASS during an executive session. "We recieved notice that they rescinded their bid and wish to sit down and speak with the governing body to negotiate," Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy said. "The governing body will discuss the issue in executive session on Tuesday, how they wish to proceed." At the council's Feb. 21 meeting, Borough …

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dweezie48

12:13 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012

They had no obligation to tell the town they were leaving since the town hadn't paid them in over 6 years for their services. Unless you have volunteered there, you can only speculate on what actually happened based on all the press out there from both sides. In my opinion, the other side has been the one that hasn't dealt in good faith.   more ›

Administrator: Borough Should be 'Done' With BASS [VIDEO]

BASS to consider rejecting bid in hopes they can negotiate with borough.

Dozens of animal lovers and Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) supporters filled the Bloomingdale Council chambers Tuesday night as BASS President Ellen Ribitzki pleaded with the borough council to work with the organization and begin paying for its sheltering services this year. But after a nearly four-hour discussion, it seemed as though the ball has been in BASS' court on whether to move forward with an agreement with the borough since Dec. 30 and despite vacating the Brandt Lane premises this weekend, it is possible that BASS can continue operating the Bloomingdale shelter. Borough Attorney Fred Semrau updated the council and said that the borough is legally unable to succumb to the changes BASS would like made to the …

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BASS Begins Vacating Bloomingdale

Animals moved out of shelter, mayor said contract was offered but not signed.

Nearly 100 animals were moved out of the Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society's (BASS) Brandt Lane shelter Sunday night, the majority of animals being sheltered in foster homes. BASS President Ellen Ribitzki said volunteers moved the animals in preparation of what she expects to be another council meeting Tuesday where terms that were included in the contract offered to them Dec. 30 are not agreed upon by both parties. Ribitzki said there are still two dogs at the facility working with shelter trainers and a few cats. Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy said Monday night the first time he heard about BASS beginning to vacate the property was at about 3 p.m. Monday. "They didn't reach out to anybody in any official capacity stating that they …

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BASS Contract Still Unsettled

Mayor said borough not obligated to pay BASS after Dec. 30 until contract is signed.

Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) President Ellen Ribitzki approached the borough council Tuesday night to ask why BASS did not receive the same monthly payment of $2,500 that the donor-funded organization received in November and December, but she was not pleased with the answer. BASS has been requesting a contract with the borough for six years and Ribitzki has said BASS can no longer continue to operate without receiving funding from the borough after having to care for more animals since the borough has expanded shared services agreements for animal control with other local municipalities (Butler, North Caldwell, Pompton Lakes, Riverdale, Wanaque and Ringwood). Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy told Ribitzki that since the …

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BASS Wants Flood Contingency Included in Contract

Contract between borough and animal shelter society still not signed.

The Borough of Bloomingdale may have awarded the Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) a contract, which they have been asking for for six years according to BASS President Ellen Ribitzki. But a month after it was awarded, the contract still has not be signed by BASS and put into effect by the borough. At the Bloomingdale Council's meeting Tuesday, Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy said the five-year contract has not yet been signed because BASS' attorney had requested several changes to the contract that was presented. Among those changes, Ribitzki said BASS wanted a clause included that would allow the organization the same 120-day termination clause as was provided to the borough in the contract that was awarded on Dec. 30. But …

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Letter: BASS President: Contract Not Much of a Commitment From Borough

Ribitzki said 120-day clause offers little protection to shelter.

The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) President Ellen Ribitzki. If you would like to submit a letter, send it to ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com. Letters to the Editor must be 500 words or less. Dear Editor, In an article appearing in the Suburban Trends, Nov 29, 2009, I was quoted as saying that “BASS did not believe that Bloomingdale had any intention of offering BASS a contract.”  Knowing that BASS ended 2008 with a $10,000 deficit with the funds that had gone directly to BASS from Ringwood being appropriated by Bloomingdale, 2009 saw the surprise addition of North Caldwell and deficits approaching $30,000 with the additional town. Bloomingdale was able to give the animal …

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Former Bloomingdale Mayor Urges Community to Donate to BASS

Ann DuHaime said BASS needs steady stream of income.

BASS Continues to Wait for a Contract

President said she hopes for written agreement soon.