More than a dozen puppies abandoned in Rahway now up for adoption
Police say officers responded to Jefferson Avenue on June 20 after receiving reports of puppies roaming the area.
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Eighteen puppies found abandoned near a busy road in Rahway are now safe and looking for permanent homes as police continue searching for whoever left them behind.
Rahway police say officers responded to Jefferson Avenue on June 20 after receiving reports of puppies roaming the area. Witnesses told investigators they saw a gray SUV shortly before the puppies were discovered, leading police to believe they had been abandoned.
Neighbor David Stillman was the first to spot the puppies and stepped in to keep them from wandering into traffic until animal control arrived.
"My main thought was to keep them together from wandering off, you know, into the street or getting lost," Stillman said.
The puppies are now being cared for by Common Sense for Animals. Founder Dr. Robert Blease says abandonment cases like this are uncommon, but they are becoming more frequent as animal shelters struggle with overcrowding.
“We have about 35 to 40 dogs and more than 100 cats looking for homes,” Blease said. “People just don’t have the money to care for them.”
He says the shelter is still recovering from another large abandonment case just a few months ago, when about 80 dogs were found in Phillipsburg.
Despite their ordeal, Blease says the puppies are in relatively good health. One puppy is being treated for a severe skin condition, but overall, they are expected to grow into healthy, large dogs.
The puppies have been vaccinated, dewormed and medically evaluated. They are now available for adoption through Common Sense for Animals. The shelter screens every potential adopter to help ensure the animals are placed in safe, permanent homes.
