Friend or Faux? Do you know who your rescue is?   


Groups conducting business in NJ and collecting cash should be registered (or reported) to the NJ Dept of Treasury, Division of Revenue. If a group claims to be a “non-profit” or a 501c3 when there is evidence of neither, contact:

NJ Charitable Registration Hotline at 973-504-6215

The NJ Charitable Registration & Investigation Section administers and enforces the provisions of the Charitable Registration & Investigation Act (CRI Act).

NJ Charitable Registration and Investigation Act

NJ Charities Regulations

Directory of Registered NJ Charities

NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue

IRS Charities Search

Guide Star.org  - for 501c3 non-profit reports and 990s


Things to watch out for!

Cash only adoptions coupled with on-the-spot adoptions

High volume of purebred or “designer” puppies

Exorbitant adoption fees ($400 - 950)

Charging more for purebreds and puppies than mixes and older dogs  

No health records and, if crossing state lines, no inter-state health certificates

No health guarantee for the animal, even for 48-72 hours

No contact info (names or phone numbers) listed on rescue websites or PetFinder pages

Delivers dogs to adopters in public places, like parking lots, parks, stores

Uses different names (aliases) to sell / adopt dogs

Uses different phone numbers (disposable cell phones) to avoid detection  

Switches different towns and cities on a whim

Courtesy postings on Petfinder (some groups are banned from Petfinder but seek various ways to post their animals)  

Uses a New Jersey P.O. Box or business (like a UPS store, Agway or Tractor Supply) for an address when they are actually located in another state