Our Philosophy

Mission

Liberty Humane Society’s mission is to foster a community of compassion and respect, and provide animals in need with a chance at a lifelong, loving home.

We care for, treat, and find homes for thousands of animals every year. Rehoming animals who have nowhere else to go is one of the most urgent aspects of our mission, but our long-term goal is to build a community in which those services are no longer needed.

Homeless animals in shelters are a symptom of much larger community issues. Lack of access to affordable veterinary services, training, spay/neuter surgery, and general education makes providing pet care daunting for owners with few resources. In Hudson County, 17% of households live below the poverty line.  That doesn’t stop these families from having pets—and we don’t believe it should.

The human-animal bond transcends cultural and socio-economic boundaries. Pets are an essential component of many modern families, and we want to help our community access affordable, accessible resources so their pets can stay happy and healthy.

Through our low-cost public Wellness Clinic, Humane Education program, and surrender prevention services, our goal is to reduce the number of animals who enter the shelter and provide a higher quality of care for those who stay in their homes. We want to empower our community to take ownership for the way animals are treated, both in and out of the shelter system, by giving them the tools they need to make positive choices and provide independent care. That is how we create lasting change for animals in need.  

Shelter Care

Liberty Humane Society is an open admission shelter that contracts with Jersey City and Hoboken. This means that every stray animal found in these cities is brought to LHS, day or night. 

All animals receive a medical assessment and vaccinations upon intake. New Jersey requires stray animals to be held for seven days before they are made available for adoption. After a behavioral assessment, adoptable dogs and cats move into main shelter housing where they will stay until adopted or transferred. All animals are spayed or neutered and microchipped prior to adoption.

Many of the animals who enter LHS haven’t had much training or medical care and are in need of additional resources to make them ready to thrive in a home environment. LHS does not have a time limit for how long they can stay with us; animals remain in our adoption program except in cases of severe medical or behavioral issues.  These issues are discussed weekly by a committee of staff and volunteers who decide on the most appropriate course of action.  All dogs receive basic obedience training and specialized treatment plans, if needed.

LHS is committed to creating positive outcomes that are in the best interest of both the animals who enter our care and the health and safety of our community. Animals who are unsafe to be placed in a home, whose health prognosis is very poor, or who exceed the resources available to us are euthanized.  

LHS endorses the “Return to Field” (RTF) of healthy feral and under-socialized cats, and supports “Trap Neuter Return” (TNR).