The Montclair Animal Shelter invites you to join Health Department Director Sue Portuese and Animal Control Officer Melissa Neiss in the Best Friends Animal Society “Strut your Mutt” event -- a leisurely, scenic morning walk to raise money and support our mission for a world of No More Homeless Pets®. “Strut Your Mutt” will be held Sunday, September 26, Pier 84, Hudson River Park, NYC.

After the walk stay and enjoy a doggie-themed festival for pets and their people that includes free massages and pampering for your pooches, training demonstrations, doggie yoga, the hottest products and accessories, free treats, music, food, contests and much more.

The Montclair Animal Shelter needs transport volunteers to take injured and orphaned wildlife to various wildlife centers in the state where they can be properly cared for. These include the Raptor Trust in Millington, NJ (Morris County, Great Swamp area); Woodlands Wildlife Center in Pittstown, NJ (Hunterdon County) and the Mercer County Wildlife Center in Lambertville, NJ.

Volunteers will not be handling the animals. The animals will be crated. Transport volunteers will need to get them to the rehabilitator and return the carriers to the Shelter. To volunteer or for more information, contact the Montclair Animal Shelter at 973-744-8600 or E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Transport is needed at all times of day and early evening.

May 18, 2010

Montclair State University Professor Denis Feigler's Industrial Design students were at Montclair Town Hall Monday evening to present their final class projects to township officials and design professionals – models of a new dog run for the Montclair Animal Shelter. This is the second such project Professor Feigler's class has worked on for the Shelter. Students Gary D. Anzelmo III, Jeffrey Molina, David Scozzari, Anthony Fragal and Heather Rohilf presented their projects and fielded questions about the challenges they faced designing an enclosed space for exercising dogs off leash at the Shelter.

Last year the MSU class designed – and built – two free-roaming cat rooms in which the animals can play freely and visitors can interact with them in a natural living environment.

“Once again, Professor Feigler’s students truly impressed us with their highly professional and really quite clever designs,” said Director of Health and Human Services Sue Portuese. “We hope to find donors and sponsors who would make the students’ work a reality for our canine friends at the Shelter.”

The students’ dog run models are currently on display in the Montclair Council Chambers at 205 Claremont Avenue.

Montclair Animal Control Officer Melissa Neiss and Health Department Director Sue Portuese provided a progress report presentation on the Montclair Animal Shelter's first year of operation at the Montclair Council Conference Meeting, Tuesday, May 11.

The presentation is available for download here.