S.T.A.R.T., founded and established in 1991 as a non-profit organization by Annette Lamberti and is the original S.T.A.R.T., Save the Animals Rescue Team in North New Jersey. S.T.A.R.T., is a humane organization whose mission is to rescue stray, abandoned, injured, and abused kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs in northern New Jersey. The animals rescued are examined by a veterinarian, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and placed in one of our volunteer foster homes. Since S.T.A.R.T. does not have a shelter facility, these animals remain in our foster care until they are adopted. Many of these unfortunate animals are victims of pet over-population, therefore, this life-saving work is critical!! An important part of our rescue work is to maintain sterile colonies of cats. Feeding and care for these colonies can begin as early as 5:00 a.m. for some of our volunteers, and last long into the evening hours. Colonies are fed twice a day, every day, no matter what the weather, and, when needed, medical care is given. In addition, S.T.A.R.T. participates in an outreach program with various shelters and rescue groups. We rescue animals before they are euthanized, giving them a second chance at life. The organization is dedicated to ending the pet overpopulation crisis in Northern New Jersey and is operated solely on private contributions, grants, and member financial support to carry out all of these vital efforts. S.T.A.R.T. has more than 30 members and holds pet adoption days at Petco in Totowa, NJ. We’ve come a long way and are proud of the ‘ground’ we have covered! But there is still so much more work to do. Please take this time to think about our needs, and if possible, send a donation. Every little bit will help us to continue our rescue effort, without your continued support, it this will not be possible. May the animals that you hold near to your heart continue to richly bless your life!
The first step is to complete and send the pre-adoption application. Our S.T.A.R.T. adoption counselors will review your application, proceed with your vet and personal reference checks, and if all goes well, they will contact you to discuss your application and to arrange for you to meet the pet you are interested in. This process takes time, so please be patient.