Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge
Building Hope Together
At Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. (RBARI), we are dedicated to creating calmer, safer, and healthier spaces where animals can heal, recover, and prepare for their forever homes. Our mission is to provide life-saving care that transforms the lives of the most vulnerable animals in our community.
Our Commitment to Care
We believe that every animal deserves a chance at a happy life. Our facility in Oakland, New Jersey, is currently undergoing a transformative renovation project designed specifically to enhance the well-being of our residents. By focusing on comprehensive veterinary care, including vaccinations and spay/neuter services, we ensure every pet is ready to join a loving family.
A Personalized Approach
Our work is rooted in the belief that adoption is a lifelong, joyful partnership. We utilize a thoughtful, step-by-step process that prioritizes finding the best fit for both the pet and your family. Because we want every transition to be successful, we offer support through the entire adoption journey, ensuring you have the tools and information needed to welcome your new companion home.
Programs Built on Love
We are proud of our specialized initiatives, such as the Senior to Senior Adoption Program, which matches adopters age 65 and older with pets age 8 and up. This program celebrates the idea that love only grows with age, waiving fees and providing extra care to ensure comfort in a pet's golden years.
Join Our Mission
Are you ready to find your perfect match? We invite you to browse our current adoptable dogs, cats, and small animals on our website today. If you are looking to do more, we encourage you to join our community as a volunteer or support our life-saving work by making a donation. Your support allows us to continue our vital mission of rescue and hope.
Trust Assessment
SilverRated Sep 29, 2026
NonprofitVerifiedPhysical FacilityOperating 50+ years
FinancesOnline Review Highlights
- Staff dedication and care
- Transparent and efficient adoption process
Vetted by
How we assessCoverage We Reviewed
AOL.com
7/10 - A cat, dog, and rabbit are in need of homes in North Jersey this week - AOL
If you work at or volunteer with a North Jersey animal shelter or rescue, send your adoptable pets to amwallace@usatodayco.com to be featured.
Recent Videos
10/19 - 🐾 Happy Tails, Alaska — now Harper! 🐾 Our sweet Frenchie girl has found her family, a new name, and a home where she is already very loved. ❤️ Harper came to RBARI struggling with chronic dry eye and horrible skin allergies that had gone untreated. With eye drops, baths and medications, she began feeling so much better and was finally ready to find the family who would spoil and adore her! Her new family gushed, "She is the sweetest, most gentle girl. She is doing great. She definitely suffers from FOMO!" Harper is settling in beautifully. She's getting to know her two new dog brothers, Cal and Louie, and recently reached a big milestone when all three curled up together on the same blanket for family TV time. ❤️ She's found her voice, loves running around the backyard, and sleeps in her human brother's room each night. Her family is taking things slowly, giving everyone time and space to adjust while making sure Harper feels safe, comfortable and very much a part of the family. This is your support in action. Because of our beloved community, Harper received the medical care she needed and had the chance to find a family ready to love her perfectly imperfect and all. Thank you for helping make happy endings like Harper's possible every day at RBARI! ❤️🐾 #HappyTails #FrenchBulldog #FrenchieLove #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #RBARI
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10/13 - 💗 Jewel Update: Still Searching for a Forever Home 💗 We have some wonderful news to share about Jewel. After being hit by a car and left with multiple pelvic fractures, this sweet girl has recovered beautifully! But what she needs most is somewhere safe and loving to belong. Jewel is a three-year-old Shih Tzu/terrier mix who was rushed to the emergency hospital with a shattered pelvis, pulmonary contusions, abdominal fluid, bloody urine and difficulty breathing. After a month of intensive care and rest, Jewel has come so far — and we’re hoping her next stop will be a forever home. 🏡 Please visit rbari.org/adopt to apply. Jewel is a little shy, but super sweet. She was previously missing an eye, but sees well with her remaining eye – and we think it makes her even more special! Despite everything she has been through, Jewel is a docile, well-mannered girl who just wants to be close to her people. Can you give Jewel the safe, loving home she needs for the rest of her recovery — and maybe forever? 💕 (Links in bio!) #RBARI #AdoptDontShop #AdoptJewel #FosterSavesLives #RescueDog #HealingJourney
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10/12 - 💛 Adopter / Foster Needed! Sage Is Ready for Her New Beginning 💛 Sage has already fought her way back once. After emergency spinal surgery earlier this year, this tiny two-year-old Frenchie regained mobility, learned to walk again and was adopted. Sadly, just a few months after she went home, another ruptured disc left Sage facing a second spinal surgery — and an uncertain future. Now back at RBARI, Sage is recovering and adjusting to what may be a very different life. She currently needs bladder expression, rest and continued rehabilitation, and there is a possibility she may remain paralyzed. 💛 But Sage is so much more than her medical needs. She is tiny, sweet, affectionate, loves being close to her people and has so much love to give. What Sage needs now is someone willing to look beyond what she may not be able to do and see everything she still can do, including soon zipping around on wheels. 🏡 We are urgently searching for a devoted adopter or foster home to give Sage the stability, patience and love she deserves. Her life may look a little different going forward, but different does not mean less. 💛 Adopt Sage: rbari.org/adopt 💛 Foster Sage: rbari.org/foster Can’t bring Sage home? Please share her story. She may be one share away from her person! Sage has already survived two heartbreaking setbacks. We want her next chapter to be the one where someone chooses her — completely. 💛 (Links in bio!) #FrenchBulldog #Frenchie #AdoptDontShop #SpecialNeedsDog #RBARI #SavingLivesTogether
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10/7 - 🐾 TWO VERY DIFFERENT DOGS, ONE BIG WISH: HOME! 🏡❤️ ✨ LIZZIE ✨ This sweet 3-year-old Boxer mix has come such a long way. After spending months scared and alone near a busy road, Lizzie was rescued and finally learned what it feels like to be safe. She’s shy and easily startled, but once she trusts you, her silly, playful, cuddly Boxer personality shines through as you can see here! 🥹❤️ Lizzie is about 63 lbs, spayed, vaccinated, and does well with dogs with proper introductions. She’ll need a patient, secure home, and may need a few visits to feel comfortable, but once she bonds, she’ll be your loyal best friend for life. 🐶💕 ✨ MORTY ✨ Six-to-seven-month-old Morty is a tall, lanky hound mix puppy who is READY for fun! 🥰 He loves playing with dogs and people, and is happiest when he’s getting attention. Morty is currently about 30 lbs and we expect him to be around 45–50 lbs full grown. He’s neutered, vaccinated, and looking for an active family ready to continue his puppy training, housebreaking, exercise, and most importantly, give him all the love and attention he deserves! 🐾💙 Two wonderful dogs. Two very different personalities. And ✨ two forever homes waiting to be found. ✨❤️ 📍 Interested in meeting Lizzie or Morty? Please submit an adoption application at rbari.org/adopt. Lizzie may need a few visits and a little extra time to warm up. (All links in bio!) #AdoptDontShop #AdoptLocal #RescueDog #RescueDogs #ShelterDogs #DogAdoption #AdoptableDogs #NJDogAdoption #NewJerseyDogs #NJRescue #DogRescue #RescueIsTheBestBreed #WhoRescuedWho #ForeverHome #FureverHome #AdoptMe #DogsOfInstagram #DogsOfFacebook #BoxerMix #HoundMix #PuppyLove #RBARI #RBARIAdopt
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10/1 - Marie Update! ❤️ Marie is a crazy little girl who never stops moving or purring, despite all she has been through – and thanks to your support, she now has a second chance to live her best life! When Marie came to us after a brutal attack, she had severe swelling from multiple abscesses and bite wounds, along with fleas and ears impacted with ear mites. It took time for her infections to drain and heal, but our little fighter is slowly recovering. She did give us one more scare with pneumonia and is now on antibiotics to help resolve her respiratory infection. Thankfully, Marie is incredibly patient with all of her medications and care, and she isn’t letting anything slow her down. ✨ We’re so happy to see this sweet girl feeling better and showing us more of her personality every day. None of this would be possible without your support during what feels like a never-ending kitten season. Thank you for giving Marie the time, treatment and care she needed to heal. ❤️🐾 #KittenSeason #KittenRescue #MedicalRescue #EmergencyRescue #RescueSavesLives #RBARI
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9/29 - 💙 Reposting for Zeus: Still Ready to Roll 💙 🐾 At RBARI, We Love Frenchies. But Loving Them Means Understanding Them. Three-year-old Zeus came to RBARI paralyzed from an old spinal injury. His old injury left him paralyzed, but he has plenty of spirit left in him! Zeus loves his wheelchair, scoots around surprisingly fast and enthusiastically plays with his toys. He even tries to pull himself into a standing position, and with continued physical therapy, he may eventually develop some spinal walking or improved mobility. Zeus is incontinent and requires bladder expression, but he is incredibly cooperative with his care. He needs an adopter who understands his special needs and is committed to helping him live the active, happy life he deserves. https://adopt.adopets.com/pet/de5b2c17-04ac-4115-9e86-3408bba00fea Love the Breed. Understand the Breed. Frenchies are wonderful companions who can also face orthopedic, neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye, skin and other medical problems that require significant veterinary care and lifelong commitment. If you love Frenchies, please consider adoption. And if you are considering purchasing any brachycephalic breed, learn about the health challenges associated with them and make informed, responsible choices. Because loving a Frenchie means loving more than the cute face. It means being prepared to care for the whole dog for a lifetime. Interested in Zeus? Submit an adoption or foster application at rbari.org/adopt and help one of our special Frenchies find exactly the home they need. (All links in bio!) #FrenchieFeature #FrenchBulldog #AdoptDontShop #AdoptAFrenchie #RBARI #DogRescue #Dogs #Rescue
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9/28 - 💙 RBARI Rescue Warrior Spotlight: INSPERITY! 🐾 We are so grateful to recognize the incredible team at INSPERITY as our latest RBARI Rescue Warriors! Beginning in July, their New Jersey office launched a donation drive for the animals of RBARI — and the response was incredible. Employees, friends and family came together to donate supplies, monetary gifts and Amazon gift cards, ultimately filling carloads with much-needed items for our shelter animals. What made this drive even more special was how personally their team connected with our mission. So many INSPERITY employees have rescued pets of their own, making RBARI’s work especially close to their hearts. They even decorated their donation boxes with adorable bios of RBARI animals, giving employees a chance to learn about some of the very cats and dogs their generosity would help. 💙 The drive continued well into September, and we were thrilled to welcome Jennifer, Sharon, and Jimmy to RBARI for the donation drop-off and a tour of our cat kennel. To the entire INSPERITY team: thank you for turning your compassion into action and for showing our animals just how many people are rooting for them. 🐾 You are truly RBARI Rescue Warriors! #RBARI #RescueWarriors #INSPERITY #CommunityPartners #GivingBack #AnimalRescue #CorporateGiving
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