"Setting the Standard for
Animal Rescue
in Monroe County "
KRZ Radio Interview with Jessica
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Animal rescue group to takes strays off SARP's hands
A small dog, found wearing a pooch-size sweater and walking alone down a Stroud Township street Monday morning was turned in to police after the concerned woman who found it could not keep it as she left for work. Choices are pretty limited for people who want to drop off an unwanted or stray animal in Monroe County now that the PSPCA shelter has closed. The closing made Camp Papillon, an all-volunteer pet fostering group in Stroudsburg, the biggest game in town. The group's vice president, Heather Stephens, "We currently have about 25 foster homes, and we are working hard to increase that number," she said Thursday. "We don't have a shelter, but we are trying to build one. We are really going to need one now." Stephens said Camp Papillon (formally known as Second Chance Pet Rescue) is ready to take dogs, cats and kittens immediately. Carol Fuller, a volunteer and the president of Waggin' Tails Rescue in Brodheadsville, said she got quite a few panicked phone calls as word spread about the PSPCA shelter closing. "We are open, but we are going to have a waiting list unless it's a small dog," she said. "Cats are going to be really hard right now, since we're full as far as cats go." Laura Sollers runs Safe Haven Rescue, a small group in Blakeslee. She said her volunteers will be hard-pressed to take any more animals. "We can help, but it will be on a case-by-case basis," she said. Here's contact information for local rescue groups: Camp Papillon, www.camppapillon.org. (570) 420-0450 Waggin' Tails, www.waggintailsrescue.com, (570) 992-4185 Safe Haven Rescue, www.safehavenpa.org, (570) 646-4652 — David Kidwell "Oh good. Someone dropped off animal crates," thought volunteer Heather Stephens as she arrived to get ready for Camp Papillon's pet-adoption event Sunday. But the crates weren't empty. Stephens took a closer look and found six cats inside the carriers. Then she noticed a stranger in a van at the far end of the parking lot, seeming to watch and make sure the pets were discovered before driving away. "They even left a note with their names and which shots they've had," Stephens said. "We're going to take them in. We're testing them to make sure they're healthy." At least one of the cats was adopted during the three-hour event at the former Suzuki dealership on Route 611. The episode speaks to the void left by the Pennsylvania SPCA's sudden closing of its Monroe County shelter last Thursday. But Stephens said Camp Papillion is ready and able to take unwanted pets by appointment. "Call us. We'll evaluate them and place them in a foster home," she said. People can also "self foster" an unwanted pet until Camp Papillon finds a home for it. The group will pay for the animal's shots and spay/neuter procedure, then list it Camp Papillon volunteers are looking for a place to open a temporary shelter as soon as possible. They advise anyone who finds a lost or stray dog to call Monroe County Dog Warden George Nixon at — Susan Koomar Jessica Andrew, 13, of East Stroudsburg feeds one of her homemade dog treats to Sam, a 6-year-old shepard-Great Dane mix. After donating more than $200 in dog supplies and food to Camp Papillon Pet Adoption and Rescue, 13-year-old Jessica Andrew of Stroud Township isn't stopping there. Andrew donated dog treats, toys, food and supplies to Camp Papillon on Feb. 1, and hopes to be able to do it again soon. The seventh grade Stroudsburg Middle School student with a big heart and soft spot for animals has been doing something unique to help area homeless animals. "Jessica has been making homemade dog biscuits and selling them to neighbors and friends to raise money to help Camp Papillon," Jessica's mother, Christine, said. "This was all her idea. She started this in 2006 and donated to the Greyhound Adoption Group back then." Jessica was a volunteer dog walker at the Monroe County PSPCA before it closed. She is looking forward to volunteering at Camp Papillon. In fact, the whole family has filled out volunteer applications and will be helping out the rescue group. "Jessica is willing to help out with fundraising and at the dog adoption days," Christine said. "Since all the dogs are at foster homes, she can't walk the dogs right now, but if they get a shelter, she would like to walk dogs again." Jessica makes the dog biscuits to be able to help out the dogs in need. "I thought it was really sad when the PSPCA closed. I wondered where the animals would go," Jessica said. The biscuits are all-natural, and the family's dog especially enjoys the taste-testing that he gets to do when new biscuits are made. "Rusty, our golden retriever, loves the biscuits," Christine said. "They are all-natural and made with whole wheat flour." Jessica makes three varieties of biscuits — chicken, beef and vegetarian. "We got the recipe from a family member," Christine said. Jessica enjoys every part of the baking process. "It takes me about 20 minutes to roll the dough out, and then another 20 minutes to bake it," Jessica said. This is a project that Jessica plans on continuing. There has even been talk of increasing productivity and availability in the near future. "We are talking about making the biscuits and then The animal lover has a soft spot for dogs, although she loves all animals. She even has plans for several years down the road that include dogs. "When I grow up, I would like to adopt a couple of homeless dogs," Jessica said. "I just want to be able to help out dogs in need." The family hopes that others will step up and help out "A little bit of help can make a huge difference," Christine said. "Our experience volunteering has been great." For more information on Camp Papillon, www.camppapillon.org. 
Heather Stephens, vice president of Camp Papillon, holds a rottweiler-mix that SARP brought to her Monday morning. SARP will take any stray dogs to Camp Papillon, so they can be fostered and hopefully find their owners or be adopted. This dog was found walking along Main Street on Sunday.Heather Stephens, vice president of Camp Papillon, holds a rottweiler-mix that SARP brought to her Monday morning. SARP will take any stray dogs to Camp Papillon, so they can be fostered and hopefully find their owners or be adopted. This dog was found walking along Main Street on Sunday.
Where will animals go now from PSPCA in Monroe County?
said the group is scrambling to increase its capacity.Volunteer finds cats in dropped-off crates
on the PetFinder Web site for adoption.
(570) 629-1099.Homeless dogs find new best friend in Stroud Twp.
"I am really glad that they went to no-kill shelters."
selling them at Camp Papillon events to benefit the rescue group," Christine said. "Jessica would like to continue making and selling the biscuits to benefit
Camp Papillon."
the local rescue groups, especially now that the PSPCA has shut its doors.
Carnival of The Animals
Heather Stephens as mascot Maggie holds Josaline, who will be up for adoption from Camp Papillon.
Maria Horn photo - Pocono Record Newspaper
Rescue group rushes in to find homes for pets
A fast-moving group of volunteers worked overtime to find temporary homes for dogs, cats and rabbits left over when the Monroe County SPCA shelter closed at 4 p.m. Thursday.
The Stroudsburg-area animal rescue group Camp Papillon used a network of volunteer foster families to find temporary homes for 15 dogs, 10 cats, 4 rabbits and a guinea pig just hours after learning the shelter was closing.
"We reached out to everybody today," said Heather Stephens, Camp Papillon vice president. "We must have made 100 phone calls today, but we have really good volunteers who picked up the phone, and we placed every single dog today into a safe, loving, warm environment."
The group took over Second Chance pet rescue and changed the name. In the Stroudsburg area, they have volunteers in 25 homes willing to give foster homes to needy animals, Stephens said.
One of those volunteers is Mel Rosenthal. Already fostering three dogs, he answered the call Thursday to come to the shelter and pick up another dog in need of a temporary home.
"I have four of my own and three fosters, the four were fosters originally," Rosenthal said. "I can take another two if I have to."
With the SPCA shelter closed, local pet rescue groups like Camp Papillon will face an increasing number of animals in need of foster homes and adoptions.
What Camp Papillon really needs is a shelter of its own, said Gerri Papillon, the group's president.
"We want to build our own shelter," Papillon said. "With any luck we'll be able to pursue our own shelter in the area."
The group is looking for donations from the community — money, food, foster homes, crates and ideally land to build a shelter.
To learn more about Camp Papillon and how to adopt a pet, go to www.CampPapillon.org or call (570) 420-0450.
Animal lovers step forward to fill in, but more will be needed
Somehow, he resisted the urge.
Steve Warner walked out of the PSPCA of Monroe County shelter Thursday afternoon cradling a cage with a guinea pig in it.
One thing he didn't have was a dog — surprising even himself.
"I knew if I came here, I would be getting a dog," Warner, 24, said as he exited the building where 15 dogs were still up for adoption. "I knew it was going to happen. But I made it out."
Warner still had the intention of adopting his third dog at the facility when he walked in after hearing earlier in the day that the center would be closed.
But he received good news when he went in — the dogs were finding foster homes with Stroudsburg's Camp Papillon, a pet and dog rescue.
"Yup, all of them," Jeremy Murcello of Saylorsburg, a volunteer for Camp Papillon, said. "We're glad they have homes."
That doesn't mean Warner didn't pick something up for his sister, 11-year-old Olivia Warner of East Stroudsburg.
The guinea pig was hers, the two explained, to go along with another guinea pig at home. Star, adopted Thursday, would soon be meeting Snoopy back at home.
Star would also be meeting Olivia's parents, who didn't know about the adoption.
"They will in about 10 minutes," Steve Warner said.
With the remaining animals being adopted or rescued Thursday, Murcello said the problem now will be the future for people who look to drop off animals. Pet owners unable to keep an animal would often drop it off overnight on the doorsteps of the PSPCA building on Godfrey Ridge Road in Stroud Township.
Now that service won't be available as the building is vacated.
"People need to know, you can't drop pets off here anymore," he said. "If you do, there won't be anyone out here to pick them up. They will sit here and no one will pick them up."
Pet-adoption party a barking success
Camp Papillon trying to the fill void left by PSPCA shutdown of Monroe shelter
Jessica Andrew, 13, of East Stroudsburg, cuddles with a sleepy puppy.
Pets and people filled the room with wagging tails, full-throated barks and happy chatter.
Camp Papillon Pet Adoption & Rescue group hosted a three-hour adoption party Sunday at the former Suzuki dealership on Route 611 with stellar results.
The group may be close to opening a temporary shelter following the Pennsylvania SPCA's abrupt closing of its Monroe County facility last Thursday.
On Sunday, more than 30 families applied to adopt a pet. About 40 animal lovers applied to be volunteers or foster parents. There were 40 volunteers — including some former PSPCA helpers.
"It's awesome. We're just trying to get everybody adopted," said Gerri Papillon, president of the group.
Papillon said the group has "a few leads" on properties that could be used as a temporary animal shelter. The group wants to move quickly to fill the void left by the PSPCA closing, and to eventually open a full-fledged shelter, spay-neuter clinic and sanctuary.
As word of the PSPCA shelter closing spread, the group quickly increased its number of foster homes from 25 to 35 to take in dogs, cats, rabbits and even guinea pigs. Camp Papillon already had an established relationship with the PSPCA, and the agency signed over its remaining pets to the group when the shelter closed at 4 p.m. Thursday.
The group now has about 40 dogs and 50 cats.
Volunteer Wendi Chemelli wasn't surprised by the success of Sunday's event.
"This is exactly what I expected. We knew this was going to be the response. It's all about the animals," she said. "Some harsh things are being said about the PSPCA closing. They did the best they could with what they had. We hope to pick up where they left off."
Stephens stressed that Camp Papillon wants to stay out of any controversy over the shelter closing.
"We're about animals. We leave the drama at the door," she said.
The name Camp Papillon is a memorial tribute to Gerri Papillon's mother, who brought home stray pets. Even the outdoor "barn cats" ended up indoors.
When Gerri grew up and acquired her own family of pets, her mother always welcomed them home to "Camp Papillon."
Unwanted animals can be surrendered to Camp Papillon by appointment.
The group has taken in many animals displaced by home foreclosures in recent years, said volunteer Heather Stephens.
Camp Papillon's urgent need is donations (money and pet food/pet items) and foster homes. One animal lover walked into Sunday's event and handed over $100. Others cheerfully dropped $1, $5 or $10 bills into donation jars.
To qualify to provide foster care, a volunteer must have two personal references and, if the person already has pets or a pet history, a veterinarian reference. A home visit will be made and Camp Papillon volunteers will work to match the foster family with animals suited to their accommodations and lifestyle.
The rescue group gives foster families pet food and crates, and pays for pet medical care.
Requirements to adopt a pet are similar to those for foster homes.
Camp Papillon will not provide pets to someone who has surrendered an animal to the group in the past.
On the Web: www.camppapillon.org
Phone: (570) 420-0450
Volunteer Lisa MacBeth tries to convince Schnitzel to show his best side so that everyone can see how cute and cuddly he really is. According to MacBeth, he gets along with all walks of life, both human, animal and alien.
Maria Horn photo
Austin Sidman, 12, of Bartonsville cuddles with Sedo, a one-year old cat that was dropped off at the facility on Sunday. The Sidman family hopes to adopt Sedo, and brother, Bryce, 10, wants a turn to pet him also.
Phoenix Sidman, 8 of Bartonsville cuddles with Sedo, a one-year old cat that was dropped off at the facility on Sunday. The Sidman family hopes to adopt Sedo.
