Make a Difference

New York - Aria, the cat, who currently lives at the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Bergen County, has waited nearly 500 days to find her forever home.

The shelter says 373 cats have been adopted from the shelter since Aria arrived back in October 2021.

The 2-year-old black cat kept getting overlooked, so the shelter deciding to post her story online. The post has since gotten over 60,000 likes flooded with comments from people wanting to adopt her.

Thy say little miss Aria has tons of personality and loves attention. But they say her energy is so high, that she would probably do best with an owner who will give her all the attention she needs.

New Jersey’s viral black cat, Aria, is on her way to finding a new home thanks to a video that gained traction on Instagram and amassed over 580,000 views.

Aria first came to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland as a kitten in October of 2021.

While 373 other cats were adopted from the Oakland shelter between then and now, Aria’s stayed put. The now 2-year-old black cat was being overlooked, according to the shelter.

For any prospective pet owners, a black cat who has been long overlooked is available for adoption in North Jersey.

Aria the cat has been at the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland for over a year and has watched many of her fellow rescue cats get adopted. A total of 350 cats have been adopted from the shelter since Aria arrived.

"She's a really sweet girl," adoption counselor Stephanie Etherton said. "She's really spunky so she loves playing and jumping in the air at toys. She has a little feisty side, too, but for the most part she's sweet. You just have to get to know her signals, really."

PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Animal control workers in New Jersey are trying to nurse a severely abused dog back to health.

It was found wandering the streets of Paterson, but because of its condition, workers suspect someone kept it in a tightly confined space for some time and left it to starve.

It was in critical condition by the time Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge took it in.

The refuge has named her Wilma and is looking for donations to help with her care.

"Medical testing may sadly confirm our worst fear, that Wilma's heartbreaking condition is a result of slow and painful starvation," Executive Director at RBARI, Megan Brinster said. "It is hard to imagine what Wilma's life has been like before yesterday, but we have hope for her future. Wilma has a long road ahead, but she is surprisingly sweet with other dogs and an all-around loving, gentle senior dog."

A local animal shelter is rushing to the aid of a friendly stray cat who was brutally attacked by another animal.

A graphic video shared by Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge shows the cat loudly meowing with a plate of food, as concerned residents seek help.

ATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Animal Control rescued 16 German shepherds and three Dobermans from what officials called the dilapidated basement of a once shining mansion in New Jersey Tuesday.

Authorities say the 19 dogs were being kept by a squatter, who was allegedly staying in the Paterson home and breeding the dogs in horrendous conditions.

Now, the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (RBARI) in Oakland has joined forces with Second Chance Pet Adoption League of West Milford to lead the rescue effort.

PATERSON, NJ (PIX11) — Authorities in Paterson say they uncovered what they believe was a despicable case of animal cruelty.

Nearly two dozen German shepherds and Dobermans were found locked up in a basement of an abandoned mansion with no food or water. Animal control officers were called to the scene of the estate on 39th Street near Broadway Tuesday afternoon.

The dogs are now being rehabilitated at local rescues in an effort spearheaded by the Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge.

“It’s just disheartening because you keep thinking every time somebody is caught doing this maybe they will stop,” Megan Brinster, executive director of the Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, said. “But it keeps happening.”

Animal control officials said they discovered 19 neglected dogs were being kept in the decrepit basement of a onetime palatial estate on Paterson's Eastside by an unknown squatter, who authorities believe was staying in the foreclosed home.

The animals were handed over to Second Chance Rescue and the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, who will rehabilitate the dogs and place them in foster homes.

Paterson police have identified the man believed to have been living there and are working to locate him.

Once found, he could face multiple animal cruelty charges, DeCando said.

PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Six emaciated kittens found in New Jersey on Wednesday were starved, stuffed in carriers, and abandoned in an alley, an animal refuge said.

The kittens were spotted on Oak Street in Paterson.

They were overheated inside the crowded carriers and had urinated on themselves.

Animal control picked up the kittens, and the Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge (RBARI) provided them with emergency medical evaluations and urgent care.

At just 8 pounds and 8-weeks-old, this tiny pit bull puppy named Peanut was found abandoned on the streets of Paterson with head trauma that left his gums torn off, face swollen, a broken jaw, and old injuries from a traumatic attack. He was immediately hospitalized in a joint effort thanks to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge and Jersey Pits rescue and received emergency surgery that would save his life.