Mayor Reed Gusciora Op-Ed: A Paw Forward – Moving Toward a Better Future for Trenton’s Animal Shelter

Trenton, N.J. – Well-intentioned concerns about our City’s Animal Shelter are in an endless cycle—there is plenty of criticism to go around, but we are hard-pressed for lasting solutions. A recent study by PetSmart Charities highlights a concerning trend across the nation—an increase in the number of stray animals brought into city shelters, driven by factors like overbreeding, economic hardship, and the difficulty of rehoming pets with behavioral issues. The report also notes a troubling decline in adoption rates, making this a challenge not only for our city but for communities nationwide. Our animal shelter faces these same overwhelming pressures: an increase in stray animals, limited space and resources, and the ongoing difficulty of finding homes for these animals.

The solution, as it often is, boils down to one key factor—resources.

As Mayor of Trenton, however, I take full responsibility for addressing this dilemma. The fact remains, our City’s long-time Animal Shelter was never designed to handle the demands we face today. With only 20 kennels, it struggles to accommodate the daily influx of animals. While I didn’t create the shelter’s conditions, I am deeply committed to improving them. But change won’t happen overnight, no matter how loudly some demand it. Real solutions require both time and funding.

The facts are simple: We are housing over 150 dogs in a facility built for a fraction of that number. To handle this surge, we’ve had to contract with a kennel in Bucks County, at significant cost. For every dog we adopt out, another takes its place. To further alleviate this issue, we purchased a shuttered kennel in Columbus, which is now undergoing renovations to meet safety standards and provide space for the influx of dogs—some of whom may not be suitable as household pets. Some dogs have been in the shelter for more than eight months, which is a cruel situation in and of itself.

When I became Mayor, I recognized the Shelter’s severe shortcomings and set out to address them. In September 2021, I proposed using $4 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to rebuild the shelter and create a more humane environment for the animals. Unfortunately, this proposal was met with opposition from the previous City Council, and we were unable to secure the necessary funding. Had the investment been approved, we could have begun the critical work of creating a shelter that meets the demands of today’s animal population.

Another proposal was to have an animal welfare non-profit take over shelter operations, with support from our Animal Control Officers. While the partnership began positively, the previous Council’s failure to honor bills—including those for veterinary care—soon caused the program to unravel. When we sought to renew the contract, the prior Council rejected it, causing the organization to cease operations overnight. The proposal was redrafted in recent years, but unfortunately, we’ve had no takers.

Despite these setbacks, we continue to move forward. We formed an Animal Shelter Advisory Board, though only two members of the public have volunteered to join, and we remain committed to involving the community in this process. We are grateful for the volunteers who have stepped in to create a foster care system. If more residents wish to help, we can assist with food and veterinary care. We’re especially grateful to Trenton Cats Rescue for their dedicated work in reducing the number of stray cats. But it’s the dogs—many of which are difficult to adopt due to breed—that remain a challenge.

Our ordinances to prevent “backyard” breeding and animal cruelty are in place, but with limited animal control resources, we need more personnel to enforce them effectively. We encourage the public to report suspected violations so we can address them on a case-by-case basis.

While the challenges are immense, we must continue to work together. I call on our residents to consider fostering or adopting, or to make contributions to help fund necessary improvements. Change is not easy or fast, but with collective effort and sustained resources, we can ensure a better future for Trenton’s animals. We will not give up on our commitment to creating a humane, effective shelter system—but we need your support to make it happen.

W. Reed Gusciora

Mayor

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* Correction: The American Recovery Plan has been corrected to American Rescue Plan (ARP)