Our 4-legged staffers are the ones who really run the show.


		58 Route 173 West Hampton, NJ 08827 Telephone: 908-735-7213

Smugly

You may have recently seen (or heard!) Smugly basking in the sun in our reception area. Smugly has been with us for quite some time. She came to us in 1995. She was a feral cat who was found badly injured. She had multiple fractures of her nose and facial bones, probably from a fight with a raccoon. The woman who found her wanted us to try and save her, and for the next 5 days it was touch and go – but Smugly fought to survive, though she still had trouble breathing due to the fractures. When it came time to send her home, the owner informed us that she would have to go back outside to live, since she could not keep her in the house. I felt she could not survive outdoors anymore due to her injuries. The owner then felt the only option was to put her to sleep. I looked at this cat that had gone through so much pain and suffering and was determined to live, and I couldn’t now put her down. So the owner signed her over to us and she has lived with us ever since. For many years she lived happily in our basement, shying away from us and any attention we tried to give her. However, in the last year, Smugly has ventured upstairs and has become very affectionate! I guess she has finally decided that we aren’t so bad after all!

BB came along next in 1998. He was brought to us by the Hunterdon County SPCA to treat his chronic eye condition. He needed surgery to correct some malformed eyelids, and while he was here recovering, he wormed his way into the hearts of several employees. I am not sure exactly how - I went away on vacation, and when I returned he was a permanent resident. You can ask when you come in to see why he was named BB - it is slightly x-rated, though, so don't ask in front of your children.

Faith

Faith is a border collie born Oct 17,1997. She belongs to Dr. Niebojeski, and comes to work with her most days of the week. Since her nature is to try and herd everyone and every animal who comes into what she sees as her animal hospital, we have her stay upstairs in Dr Fil's office during normal appointment times. But if you visit midday while we are at lunch, she may come out to the waiting room to greet you. Here she is taking a jump at her weekly agility class, which she really enjoys. She is pictured here as the blur we usually see as she buzzes by us, even in the office. Like most border collies, she is a very busy woman with lots of things to do every day!

Tori

Tori is Dr. Fil's newest addition and a very special dog. She is a retired Seeing Eye Dog! She worked for several years as a guide dog, but as she aged she was no longer able to keep up the pace needed by her young and active owner and was returned to Seeing Eye. Dr Fil's name was next on the waiting list to adopt a retired Seeing Eye Dog, and she recieved a call in early Jan. 2008 that Tori was eligible for adoption. She is a sweet, loving and very smart black lab/golden retriever mix. Living with a dog trained as a service dog is a little different. She needs to be right by your side or at your feet all the time, as that is where she was trained to be, so that her blind person always knew where she was. And I think sometimes she is a little uncertain as to just what her job is now. Like many people who have worked all their lives, she has to make that transition to retirement and leisure. But she is learning to enjoy running free in the yard and playing with Faith (though we think Faith is not happy about not always being the smartest one in the house anymore!). Tori is also very sweet and gentle with the cats, aside from trying to steal their cat food. She comes to work with Dr. Fil a few days a week, so don't be surprised if you are greeted by her on your next visit.

Sidney

Sidney was just a kitten when she was brought to us in October of 2005 by the Hunterdon Humane Society. She had been hit by a car and had a fractured pelvis. Her injuries required a lengthy period of confinement. She stayed with us throughout her recovery. She recovered from her injuries, but does have some slight mobility problems. We all became attached to Sidney and since she is a "special needs kitty", we decided that she should stay and become one of our resident "hospital cats".

Sidney is a little shy and prefers to stay in the basement lounging in her bed and cuddling with our other feline residents. She has adapted quite nicely to her new life of indoor leisure!