Edison Municipal Animal Shelter — Local services in Edison

Sepember 2014: Can't say enough about how wonderful this place is. We adopted Scout in September and he was obviously well cared for and trained. He continues to do so well in our home. He is very affectionate and smart. We just love him to pieces and will be forever grateful to EAS for the care he received with them.

Update April 2016: we returned to EAS in March to adopt a cat. My daughter and I fell in love with one and spent some time in the play area with her. The next day, my daughter convinced my husband to come with us. I was very proud of how patient my daughter was, waiting her turn for the attendant's attention while she helped a couple for about 20 minutes. When I told the attendant we were there to play with the cat again, she snapped that the play area is only for people who were serious about adopting. I stammered that we were there to make that decision. She told us she would put us in the play area, but if someone else came along who was serious, we would have to leave. After observing for a while, my husband agreed to adopting the cat. We called the attendant and made plans to move forward with the adoption. Moving out to the waiting area, I observed a man bring in a stray cat. He told the director (Kirsten) that he found it in his yard. She told him curtly that she doesn't have room for another cat (some of the kennels I saw could have been modified to accommodate more cats). When the stunned man asked her he was supposed to do with the cat, she told him to "let it go". She then turned to us and asked to speak to us privately. Once we were alone, she pointedly asked my husband if he was OK with this. He replied honestly that he's not an animal person, but willing to go through with this. Kirsten then insisted that we bring our dog in for a "cat test". I readily agreed, having no qualms about my dog's personality. When I brought Scout back for the test, the cat we were interested in had been spayed the day before. Obviously in pain, comments were made about about how scared Scout's presence was making her. Scout acted like a normal dog to me. He sniffed the cage, barked at the cat once or twice, and whined. He was curious about the cat and in no way acted in a threatening manner. Kirsten decided that this was not acceptable and denied our application. I asked her why, and she asked who would be responsible when my dog puts the cat in the hospital. It needs to be noted that Scout has not shown aggression towards any person or animal ever, and has been in my mother's house with her cat and no problems. Kirsten then said that it wasn't the only problem. I asked what the other problem was and she yelled at me that my husband doesn't even like animals. I told her that he never had a pet until Scout and obviously he likes them enough to let them live in his house and take care of them. This did not convince her and I left with my crying daughter. I sat in the car a few minutes and went back in, asking her to tell me that there's no way these two animals could live together. She said, "I don't know, I'm not a dog trainer". I asked, "Well then why are you in charge of a shelter???". She told me there was no way I would get a cat from her and to leave. I grew up with animals my whole life. I have a good job to provide for my family, a good house, and children who love animals. Never once was I given the opportunity to explain my plans for integrating the two animals. When we adopted Scout, I was worried we wouldn't be good enough. Now I know we are. I no longer feel the same was about EAS under Kirsten's dictatorship. Many people I know adopted from there after my rave reviews of Scout. I guess Kirsten would be happier having outside contractors make their animals "disappear" (as told to me by several EPD officers, since I grew up there and know people) than give them...

• Do not go to this shelter - management is very rude - avoiding to contact - refusal for adoption without logical reasoning - puppy was healthy one week .. next week contracted kennel cough *

I went to visit EAS after visiting several other animal shelters ISO a puppy/dog for adoption. After falling in love with a puppy and being told to wait a week by a very nasty/rude staff member I wasn't contacted.

FULL REVIEW on Friends of the Edison Animal Shelter Facebook page. -

(this is the second half of my experience) A week passes and no email/call. I checked junk mail and everything. Nothing. My father and I decide to drop in and visit without warning.. At my arrival I see Topaz on a walk outside with a different volunteer. We bypass Topaz and the woman because at the time we were unsure if she was looking to adopt or working for the shelter. Inside the volunteer from last time remembered us. She was questioning why we were back/what the problem was (clearly out of the loop). I then mention I never got contacted back about Topaz and wanted to see what the issue was. She looks alarmed and confused. "Kirsten never contacted them." She says to another worker behind the desk who makes a face that implies this isn't unusual or out of Kirsten's nature. She says "I'll check the file. There's no reasons she wouldn't have given her to you. You're young and energetic. You have a full schedule for her. I remember Topaz took to you." Opens Topaz's file - no paperwork. She starts shuffling around through other folders/stacks of paper and finds mine somewhere else. On the top right corner of the pager it read "No - Topaz needs other dogs" So she turns to me and says "Your boyfriend has dogs and your friends had dogs?" My dad then answers "Yes, Topaz will never be alone or without animals." She then starts reviewing my paperwork and says "It's so strange. There's no reason she should've rejected you. Topaz was a great fit for you." She then takes a sticky note and rewrites on it about other dogs/free time. She apologizes for the inconvenience and says it's not up to her but she would've let me leave with Topaz last week if she could. (**Topaz now has kennel cough as well and will need to finish her medication before adopting her out.) They mention Kirsten returns the following day and if I don't get a call in the AM then to call in the afternoon.

And - yes - just as you expected no phone call by 3PM. I call around 3:15PM and I'm then told, again, Kirsten isn't there and to call back in an hour. The shelter closes at 4PM.

By 4:10PM Kirsten calls and leaves me a voice mail saying: “Hi Jacqui my name is Kirsten calling from the shelter. Um, I guess you never received my email. Sorry I cannot um uh approve your adoption for Topaz. Uhh it's just not a good match for what she needs, okay? Um. So. It's a denial. Alright. Thank you. Bye bye."

I have never felt more offended and personally targeted by someone. I’m not sure what type of profiling system she uses to find a “good fit” to adopt animals. I just simply don't understand what type of person would VOLUNTARILY keep a dog/puppy in a shelter and REFUSE a perfectly good fit! The volunteers I met were wonderful, cheerful, educated and inviting.. A few of the staff members I did interact with were neutral or spoke to me with respect. The shelter was clean.. just unfortunately not organized or professional in my opinion.

**Keeping the puppy there a week longer and continuing to have it interact with another puppy that is ILL and ALSO contracted kennel cough sounds simply unprofessional and like the animal's best...

Today 04/21/2024 we went to the kitten shower which we were so looking forward too. However once we arrived we were told that we could not adopt any kittens today. The only kittens that were available were outside and we was told they were already waiting adoption. We went inside to see other kittens but was told they are too young to be adopted. Yes even though they did have cats which were beautiful myself and my Wife wanted a kitten. The only reason I am writing this is because no where on the website did it say you must fill out an application first and also on the first annual kitten shower that was posted on Facebook did not state anywhere that kittens would not be available even though the flyer says meet adoptable kittens. So this was a total disappointment. I also received an email that they currently do not have any kittens to please try back in a few weeks. I’m sorry I know every shelters needs donations but I think today was more of that than to have available kittens. I believe this was false advertising the website and flyer should had said possibly no kittens would be available due to high demand and now I have to try again in a few weeks to apply again. Definitely writing to my local congressman’s, governor’s office and the news media. I’m not bothered that I drove all the way I’m bothered that we were expecting to adopt kittens and there was none available. To me it was more to lure people in just to look around and provide donations which is understandable but to have no kittens at all it is not right. And the children there must of felt a certain way either. Very very...