HOPATCONG BOROUGH, N.J. (Sussex County) — The Hopatcong Animal Shelter has been recognized with a 2024 Best Friends No-Kill Shelter Award, honoring the shelter’s commitment to saving animals and maintaining a high standard of care.
The award, given by Best Friends Animal Society, designates shelters that meet or exceed a 90% save rate for dogs and cats — a benchmark that reflects lifesaving progress and effective animal care. The shelter met the criteria by providing compassionate treatment and successful outcomes for the majority of animals in its care.
“No-kill, as a philosophical principle, means saving every dog or cat in a shelter who can be saved,” the Best Friends website explains. “We designate shelters that meet the 90% save-rate benchmark as no-kill.”
Shelter officials said the recognition reflects years of hard work by staff, volunteers, and community members.
“Every single day, our jobs are physically demanding and emotionally draining,” the shelter said in a statement. “It is rewarding to see each animal’s journey at our shelter. Sometimes it’s gut-wrenching when the outcome isn’t what we expected — but we see it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Hopatcong’s Animal Control Officers and kennel staff emphasized the team effort involved in reaching the no-kill status, thanking veterinary partners, foster families, adopters, supporters, and donors.
“It takes a village — and ours is a great one,” the shelter said.
More information about the Best Friends No-Kill program is available at bestfriends.org.
