5 Animal Shelters Not Far From Ocean City: Adopt, Volunteer, Or Donate

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Spring brings National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, but when that has come and gone, many pets remain, waiting for homes in Ocean City.

Those adorable puppy and kitty eyes may seem unfairly enticing, but pets are great companions. It's been shown and reported that pets can increase wellness and enhance mental health.

If you just love animals but you're not in a situation to adopt right now, you might consider volunteering at a local shelter. Help is usually needed with exercising dogs, cleaning, feeding pets, and helping to raise funds. Donating is also a way you can get pets into homes; your donation may keep costs of local veterinary care low so more people can afford to adopt pets.

5 Great Animal Shelters Around South New Jersey

Humane Society of Ocean City
This full-service shelter has been around for 50 years, aiming to bring compassion to four-legged friends as it finds homes for abandoned and rescued pets. It's right in Ocean City.

• When you adopt a pet here, you'll get a 10 percent lifetime discount at the veterinary center.
• Dog and cat adoptions and services are offered, and you can sponsor a homeless animal at this no-kill shelter.
• HSOC has a full-service veterinary hospital.

Beacon Animal Rescue
This no-kill rescue shelter for cats and dogs in Ocean View offers adoptions and affordable veterinary care.

• When you adopt a pet here, Beacon continues to offer support.
• You can also volunteer at Beacon Animal Rescue.

Animal Welfare Society of Cape May County
This no-kill nonprofit shelter provides care for homeless dogs and cats. Seniors can adopt a senior pet for only $25.

• Volunteers are needed for dog-walking, fundraising events, cleaning and feeding, and other jobs.
• Stories of happily adopted pets here will you smile.
• If you can't adopt, you can donate.

South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter
This shelter has adopted out 256 pets so far in 2022. It has returned home 177 lost pets and had 381 pets spayed or neutered in its clinic. Right now 244 pets are waiting for adoption at SJRAS in Vineland.

• Adopting a pet is just one way you can help.
• You can volunteer in lots of ways, like transporting pets or fostering, and even teens and kids can help.
• You can donate, help support the low-cost vaccine clinic, or join in the annual yard sale.

Atlantic County S.P.C.A.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers services in Atlantic County, including affordable veterinary care, pet dental care, and spay or neutering. They're at 334 Steelmanville Road, Egg Harbor Township.

• Microchips for pets are only $25 and rabies vaccines are $10.
• Check out S.P.C.A. services at low costs here.

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