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Garfield Volunteers Boost Animal Rescue Efforts

GARFIELD, N.J. — The ranks of the Garfield Animal Rescue Foundation continue to grow as they try to shrink the number of cats and dogs without homes.

Volunteers show their team spirit as part of the Garfield Animal Rescue Foundation.

Volunteers show their team spirit as part of the Garfield Animal Rescue Foundation.

Photo Credit: Facebook

The group of about 60 volunteers sponsor neutering for stray animals, mostly cats, to help limit the population, active member Darlene LeMasson said.

The foundation started in 2010 and while they do not have a physical building, they still find ways to help. LeMasson said they meet monthly at city hall and find various ways to raise funds to help local animals.

Having the extra help can benefit a city, LeMasson said.

"It's just better to have a group," she told Daily Voice. "It's very hard to do with just a handful of people. We need a lot of people. It takes a lot of energy to get this done."

The volunteers often foster animals and try to find them homes. They hold fundraisers such as car washes or breakfast events to raise money for various local veterinarians to spay and neuter the strays.

More than 100 cats were spayed and neutered thanks to the groups efforts, LeMasson said.

The foundation also uses social media to help their cause by finding more help and posting news such as lost pets.

"A lot of our members are very busy and not much older than 30," LeMasson said. "So the younger handful go on Facebook and push things and make announcements."

LeMasson said she is not sure how many stray animals roam Garfield's streets. There are "colonies" that seem to stick together though, she said. 

Once neutered, the cats seem to stay in groups since they don't wander to find mates, she continued.

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