Seasonal & Holidays
Manahawkin Resident Grateful For Popcorn Park Zoo’s Lifesaving Work
Susan Agin says the zoo and shelter rescue animals in need and bring comfort to the community.
Manahawkin, NJ — Thanksgiving is the perfect time to pause and reflect on what brings us joy — from family and friends to meaningful traditions and everyday moments. This year, Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to spotlight the thankful moments that bring our communities together.
Here’s what Susan Agin in Manahawkin shared. Want to tell us what you’re thankful for? It could be a person, a tradition, or even a small everyday joy — just answer a few questions, and let your community know what matters most to you this year.
What are you most thankful for this year?
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The Associated Humane Society & Popcorn Park Zoo.
Why does this mean so much to you?
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The Popcorn Park Zoo and the AHS shelter do the most wonderful work for animals in need. The zoo is a fun place to bring the family and see all of the animals that have been rescued from bad situations, neglect, accidents or simply had no place else to call home. The shelter serves so many homeless dogs, cats, birds and guinea pigs that are looking for homes. We adopted our Siberian husky, Miss Scarlett, there in 2013, and she was with us for over twelve and a half years until she passed. The volunteers do amazing work and deserve to be recognized. I recently joined the Adventure Tails program, where you can take a shelter dog out for the afternoon and give them a great day at a park so they can have a break from shelter life for a few hours. It’s a wonderful program and a fantastic place to visit.
How has this made a difference in your 2025?
We lost our dog Scarlett last month, who we adopted from AHS Lacey 12 years ago, and being able to take part in the Adventure Tails program and give a great dog a day out has helped us start to heal our hearts.
What do you wish others knew about what you’re thankful for?
I wish everyone knew that they could take their family to the Popcorn Park Zoo and see firsthand what they do for animals. The shelter is in constant need of donations of all kinds, and I love helping to spread the word about the great work they do there.
What are you thankful for this year — a business, a community organization, a place, or a person who’s made a difference? We want to hear from you! Click here to answer a few questions, and your response could be featured on Patch.
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