Despite receiving frequent calls regarding stray dogs and cats, the township of Irvington, NJ has not had a licensed impoundment facility to care for these animals since its contract with Aranwood Kennel ended on February 14, 2024.  Irvington was recently given the opportunity to contract with a local shelter but has not taken action to move forward.  This raises serious concerns not only for the welfare of stray dogs and cats in the community, but it is also a public health issue.

The township of Irvington, New Jersey is breaking the law and putting stray animals and residents in danger!  Please sign this petition demanding Irvington, NJ contract with an animal shelter or other licensed impoundment facility ASAP.  

In addition to the law (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16b) requiring every New Jersey municipality to have a licensed impoundment facility, the need for one is illustrated in the records of calls made by residents to police about stray animals.  In 2024, Irvington received approximately 207 calls about stray dogs and cats.  So far, in 2025, they have received approximately 87 calls.  These are the number of calls listed in documents obtained through OPRA requests, but we have identified missing records of calls to police about stray dogs who have been contained by residents and required pick up by animal control.

Irvington claims to have “fosters” who hold strays, but of the three dog fosters on the list, one has not taken dogs from Irvington in years nor do they have an active contract.  The second “foster” is located at an address that does not exist.  The third “foster” is a small veterinarian office that does not answer their phone.  When asked about this, Irvington’s Department of Health ignored the questions.  An OPRA request was made to Irvington for the 2024 and 2025 documentation of payments made to these “fosters” for the care of strays, but Irvington’s response was that no such records exist.  This indicates that there are no licensed fosters contracted with the town.  

So where do all the lost dogs go?  Many residents, who have called the police about a stray, have been told by police that the town does not have animal control, leaving the residents with no choice but to leave the animal where it is or if contained, release it back onto the street.

If an owner is looking for their lost dog, who do they contact?  The police call logs regarding stray animals do not indicate whether an animal was picked up or where they were taken.  As a result, it is reasonable to assume that these animals are not being placed on the required 7-day stray hold (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16(a)) and if they are, a stray hold is useless if residents do not know where to find their lost dog.  This also indicates that sick and injured strays are not receiving medical care nor are any strays receiving the rabies vaccine, as required by law (N.J.S.A. 4:19‑15.2a).    

Without a licensed impoundment facility to take stray dogs and cats, they roam the streets.  This puts residents in danger of being bitten, including bites from dogs and cats with rabies and other diseases.  In addition, it leaves injured and sick dogs and cats out on the street.  Without proper TNVR practices in place, the feral cat population only continues to grow, including feral sick and injured cats.  This places stress on the local rescue community of volunteers, who, when possible, should only be stepping in as a supplement for a town with proper animal control practices, rather than doing all the work for the town.  This is unacceptable.  How can an Animal Control Officer do their job with no formal support system in place?

Irvington’s annual budget of $102,000 does not even begin to allow for contracting with a licensed impoundment facility.  The town did, however, recently spend $600,000, intended to fight the opioid crisis, on two concerts (https://www.nj.com/essex/2025/07/nj-town-received-money-to-fight-opioid-crisis-it-paid-for-concerts-cotton-candy-report-says.html  In 2020, the population of Irvington, NJ was 61,167.  On average, a contract with a licensed impoundment facility costs approximately $4/resident which means that Irvington should be budgeting at least $250,000 per year for animal control rather than $102,000.  The township of Irvington, NJ should have immediately reached out to licensed impoundment facilities after their contract with Aranwood Kennels ended.  Irvington, NJ cannot get away with lying about the “fosters” that they have for the strays picked up by animal control.  They are breaking the law and trying to convince us that by having “fosters” they are meeting the requirements of New Jersey Municipal Animal Control laws.

Please sign this petition demanding that the township of Irvington, NJ follow the New Jersey Municipal Animal Control laws by providing a licensed impoundment facility, to ensure the proper care of stray dogs and cats as well as safety of both the animals and the community.