Viral post offers help from equestrian center for animals displaced by NJ

Wildfires have ravaged North Jersey through much of November, with thousands of acres burned.

First responders have been in the thick of the battle to quell the flames while locals have rallied to help. That includes Megan O’Neill, a member of the North Jersey Equestrian Center.

When O’Neill took to Facebook and posted the picture of a horse and the fires raging behind it, she never expected the wave of support she received.

“If you are facing evacuation of your animals due to ongoing wildfires, North Jersey Equestrian Center located in Pompton Plains, NJ is offering transportation, designated stalls, and specialized staffing to accommodate any animal in need of safety and shelter,” O’Neill wrote.

Her post was shared over 2,700 times. Many people reached out from North Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, volunteering their skills to see where they could help.

The center itself is offering full care for any kind of animal, not just horses. With a full crew that specializes in animal care, they are ready for any sort of issue that may arise. Many locals have already reached out and braced themselves for the possibility of an evacuation.

With over 103 stalls at 12 by 12 ready and waiting, the center is determined to help any animal in need. Transportation for the animals is also provided 24 hours. The center is a giant farmland owned by Karl and Deana Bauer and is 22 years old. The Bauer family has always aided and serviced animals in times of need but on a smaller and quieter scale.

The barn itself is “bomb-proof,” according to O’Neill. Equipped for any sort of flood or weather event, the stables are the safest place to be, especially during the wildfire season. There is an extra barn in case of an overflow of animals, which does not look like the case so far.

With O’Neill’s post, awareness has been spread that there is a service to assist animals and their owners in need. O’Neill urges anyone who can help to step forward, even if it is a small act of goodness. The center itself remains on call 24 hours, in case of an emergency or evacuation order. Their number is 973-839-0077.

“If someone sees an animal with burned paws, I’d hope they’d stop and do the right thing, and set a good example for the animal community,” she said.

In lighter news, the facility plans to open its doors to first responders who have helped throughout the area, providing them with a horsemanship offer. Aimed for January, the program will be called Carousel Horsemanship.

“Those who are helping us have nothing to gain but a good deed,” O’Neill says, “We have the means and want to do more for them.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey Equestrian Center to help animals from wildfire

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