Embattled shelter gets ‘satisfactory’ grade, finally
HAMILTON >> When Dr. Colin Campbell inspected the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter on Wednesday, he found the facility in significantly better shape than what he had previously observed.
Campbell, a New Jersey Department of Health veterinarian, discovered numerous violations at the shelter on July 16 and identified several deficiencies during an Oct. 18 re-inspection in which the facility once again failed to meet satisfactory conditions.
The Democratic-led Hamilton Council launched an ongoing investigation into the embattled shelter earlier this year, but Republican Mayor Kelly Yaede’s administration has taken corrective action to finally bring the facility into compliance with New Jersey Administrative Code.
Campbell single-handedly inspected the shelter for 45 minutes on Wednesday and issued a “satisfactory” report with zero violations noted, according to an inspection report he signed.
“After addressing all previously cited issues and making additional, proactive improvements, this new state report confirms that Hamilton’s Animal Shelter is meeting state requirements in a satisfactory manner,” Yaede said Friday in a press statement. “Now that the state has concluded its re-inspection, I look forward to our community’s shelter being able to return its focus toward promoting adoptions and finding our shelter pets loving, forever homes.”
Campbell and DOH colleague Linda Frese previously visited the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter in July and October. They identified multiple violations, giving the facility a “Conditional B” grade in July and a “Conditional A” grade in October.
The worst grade any facility can get is “unsatisfactory,” which is the grade DOH gave the Associated Humane Societies’ Essex County Branch in Newark last year. Hamilton’s animal shelter has never received an “unsatisfactory” state evaluation.
The West Windsor Township Department of Health visited Hamilton’s shelter for a July 11 inspection that reported “satisfactory” findings. As previously reported by The Trentonian, Hamilton’s shelter for years has reported high rates of euthanasia — and the township admits it was often killing animals without waiting at least seven days as mandated by state law.
The Yaede administration has taken a series of corrective actions at the shelter since July. The facility now operates under a standard operating procedure and electronic recordkeeping system, Dr. Marian Boden recently agreed to become Hamilton’s new supervising veterinarian, and the township is moving toward non-euthanasia practices.
With the Hamilton Township Animal Shelter now having a “satisfactory” grade from DOH, “We couldn’t be more pleased,” Hamilton Health Department Director Jeff Plunkett said Friday. “We look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Campbell and making the shelter as good as it can possibly be.”