Voorhees Animal Orphanage Breaks Ground on New Facility

Capital Campaign “Building for a Pawsitive Future” Hits the $1 Million Mark

From left to right: David Semless, president, VAO Board of Directors with adoptable dog Mason, Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young, Sr., Voorhees Township Mayor Michael R. Mignogna and Jennifer Bailey, marketing director, VAO, with foster puppy Bran and Bill Romaine, cat manager, VAO with an adoptable cat.

Voorhees, NJ (April 9, 2019) – Voorhees Animal Orphanage (VAO) employees and volunteers joined local public officials today to celebrate the groundbreaking of VAO’s new 8,900 sq. foot shelter. The new facility is being constructed at their current location at 419 Cooper Road in Voorhees, next to the Voorhees Township Fire Department.

“We are so excited to see our dream of building a new shelter become a reality,” said David Semless, president, VAO Board of Directors. “Since our inception in 1988, we have saved the lives of more than 30,000 cats and dogs – never turning away a cat or dog in need. This new facility will help us to efficiently continue our mission of providing loving care to our cats and dogs until we can find them their forever homes.”

The much-needed new shelter will double the space that VAO has to care for its cats and dogs and generate adoptions. The new shelter will feature:

  • Dog kennels that are 50% larger
  • Separate cat and dog meet-and-greet rooms
  • “Cat Colonies” – space that will allow cats to socialize with each other
  • Separate cat area with a larger cat room– offering cats their own sanctuary
  • Six ventilation systems to improve cleanliness and reduce the spread of germs and common shelter illnesses such as upper respiratory infections
  • Two separate dog kennel wings with a dedicated quarantine area for dogs who are sick or recovering from surgery
  • Separate space for medical examinations
  • A larger, more accommodating lobby to welcome guests and facilitate adoptions
  • A laundry room, feed room and utilities room
  • Lunch room for staff that will also serve as meeting space
  • Storage space for pet food and supplies

At the groundbreaking ceremony, VAO announced a $100,000 pledge from local volunteer Barbara Patrizzi for the naming rights to the new atrium in honor of her animal-loving parents. This significant donation marks the $1 million mark for VAO’s Capital Campaign “Building for a Pawsitive Future,”which has made the new shelter possible. The campaign’s goal is to raise $1.6 million to build a new shelter for dogs and cats as they embark on their journey toward their forever homes.

“My parents were both avid animal lovers and had adopted their adored cat, Bonnie, from the Voorhees Animal Orphanage,” said Patrizzi. “I knew a donation to help VAO build its new facility would be the perfect way to honor and remember my parents. I’ve spent time volunteering there and I’ve seen firsthand all the work they can do with limited resources – it’s quite a miraculous organization.”

Local volunteer Barbara Patrizzi presents a check for $100,000 to the Voorhees Animal Orphanage (VAO) for the naming rights to the new atrium in honor of her animal-loving parents. From left to right:  Jennifer Bailey, marketing director, VAO, Barbara Patrizzi and David Semless, president, VAO Board of Directors.

“We are so grateful to Barbara for her extremely generous donation and for all the time she has devoted to the Voorhees Animal Orphanage,” said Jennifer Bailey, marketing director, VAO. “Her donation not only helped us bring our total to $1 million for our new shelter but will hopefully inspire others to donate to our ‘Building for a Pawsitive Future’ campaign so that we can provide our animals with the loving care and facility they deserve.”

VAO anticipates a new building opening by the end of 2019.

To make a donation to support VAO’s “Building for a Pawsitive Future” Capital Campaign or to learn more visit https://www.vaonj.org/voorhees-animal-orphanage-capital-campaign/.

From left to right: David Semless, president, VAO Board of Directors, Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young, Sr., Voorhees Township Mayor Michael R. Mignogna and Jennifer Bailey, marketing director, VAO, officially break ground on VAO’s new building
Rendering of VAO’s new building.

About the Voorhees Animal Orphanage
Founded in 1988, the Voorhees Animal Orphanage (VAO) is a nonprofit community animal shelter and 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing shelter, food and medical care to stray and unwanted animals, until permanent and loving homes can be found. VAO does not receive any local, state or federal funding. We rely on grants and generous contributions of individuals and corporations. Currently, VAO serves 21 towns in southern New Jersey, 16 of which are in Camden County. VAO strives to meet a 90 percent live release rate (no-kill) and works with rescue partners across the country to rescue animals from overcrowded and high-kill shelters. To learn more about VAO and its “Building for a Pawsitive Future” Capital Campaign, visit https://www.vaonj.org/.

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