Burlington County Animal Shelter Hoping to Score a Goal with World Cup-themed Open House

In honor of the World Cup, the Burlington County Commissioners are teaming with the Burlington County Animal Shelter and Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter to host the Paw Cup Open House and Adoption Event this Saturday, June 6.

From noon to 4 PM, visit the shelter at 35 Academy Drive in Westampton to meet many of the adoptable animals and participate in some soccer-themed games and activities.  As part of the open house event, there will be a simulated soccer match: Team Dog vs. Team Cat. Come out and cheer for your favorite team and help them score the most forever-home adoptions. Every adoption counts toward the final score!

As an added incentive, adoption fees for animals over 1-year-old will be waived during the event and throughout the World Cup (the final game is July 19).

There will also be tables with information about pet care and community resources, plus snacks for people and pets.

“The Burlington County Animal Shelter staff and volunteers do a fantastic job caring for the dogs and cats in their charge, but what these animals need most is a loving forever home and family,” said Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo, the liaison to the animal shelter. “Events like the Paw Cup can make a difference and we’re hoping to add to the more than 282 cats and 153 dogs that have been adopted so far in 2026. Even if you’re not looking for a pet right now, you can still help our animals by stopping by and taking photos of our adoptable pets to share with family and friends. Every dog or cat we help find a loving home is a goal, so come out and root for your favorites.”

Among the adoptable pets is Hereford, an American Staffordshire Terrier mix who came to the shelter as a stray. He’s an older dog who warms up to new friends quickly and would likely be a great fit for anyone looking for an easy-going couch companion.

Among the shelter’s available felines is Popcorn, a 7-year-old Domestic Shorthair who was brought to the shelter after being found as a stray in Delran. Popcorn is friendly with new people and other cats, but she is still waiting for a new family to give her a chance. 

Information and photographs on all the shelter’s available dogs and cats can be found online at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/1446/Available-for-Adoption .

See the shelter’s new layout

In addition to meeting adoptable pets, visitors will have the chance to check out the shelter’s new layout following recent renovations. Among the changes:

• The shelter offices and assistance window where staff interact most with visitors was moved to the front lobby to make it more accessible to the public.
• A multipurpose room was created to host adoption and education activities for staff and residents
• The shelter donations area was updated and reorganized
• The shelter clinic was remodeled to improve efficiency and operations.

The improvements were funded with a state health grant, and the work was done by a team from the Burlington County Department of Public Works Division of Construction Services. The Division hires skilled union trade workers to perform small and medium-sized construction projects for Burlington County. Doing the work in-house rather than hiring private contractors typically reduces the expense between 10 to 15 percent.

“The Division of Construction Services has become one of Burlington County’s biggest successes and has used union trades workers to complete numerous construction jobs, ranging from roof and elevator repairs to building renovations and bridge replacements,” said Commissioner Brolo. “This skilled labor has saved County taxpayers millions of dollars on construction expenses, so we’re excited to see the improvements they’ve made at the animal shelter. We believe the changes will help make it a more welcoming place for the public to visit and hopefully bring home a new best friend.”