Sunday, February 10, 2013
Bengali died at 24, after a surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas
When Bengali the tiger arrived at Popcorn Park, he had no will to live, General Manager John Bergmann said. Ten years later, he became a staple of the animal sanctuary and is remembered as a “beautiful beast.” In January, Bengali, 24, was transported to a dog and cat specialty hospital where NorthStar Vets operated. The staff at Popcorn Park had noticed that Bengali had been lethargic and disoriented, Bergmann said. “From working with these guys all the time, we knew something was off,” he said. Blood was taken for testing, and suggested Bengali could have an insulinoma, a tumor of the pancreas, which secretes high levels of insulin, leading to severe hypoglycemia. After further testing, the diagnosis was confirmed. He was brought in for a…
Monday, February 4, 2013
Prognosticating camel improves Super Bowl record to 8-1.
Princess the camel from Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township scored another ‘W’ when the Ravens clinched Super Bowl XLVII. Although it was a close call as the 49ers made a comeback in the fourth quarter, the odds were in favor of Princess’ prediction with the Ravens winning 34-31. Popcorn Park celebrated the victory with an update on its Facebook page: “Ravens win!!! Princess picking another Super Bowl winner… Priceless!” Each year, Princess predicts the winner of NFL games, including the Super Bowl. Princess makes her decisions based on graham crackers. Each week, General Manager John Bergmann writes the names of two teams competing and holds a graham cracker, Princess’ favorite snack, in each hand. Princess then chooses to eat the treat …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Will Princess the Camel's prediction put the Ravens over the hump?
Princess the Camel of Popcorn Park Zoo has a thing for underdog stories. As a football pick prognosticator, Princess has predicted the Baltimore Ravens will come out on top in Super Bowl XLVII. “She thought about it for a while,” said John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park. Princess, who has been prognosticating for the past seven years, has the uncanny ability to predict the outcome of games. This season she is 11-6, having missed several weeks due to Popcorn Park’s involvement in rescuing animals after Hurricane Sandy. For Super Bowls, Princess’ record is 7-1. The last few Super Bowls, she has gone with underdogs, Bergmann said. Princess makes her decisions based on graham crackers, Bergman said. Each week, Bergmann writes the …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Forked River shelter receives 24 chihuahuas from North Carolina
Lacey Township has 24 new residents today after Popcorn Park picked up a group of chihuahuas from Robert J. Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township. The dogs were transported from Gates, N.C., by Pilot-N-Paws, an organization that transfers rescue animals to shelters and foster homes. A North Carolina “animal lover” and her husband were caring for 32 chihuahuas when the wife unexpectedly passed away, leaving her husband to care for these dogs all alone, Renee Szorosy of Popcorn Park said. While some were already adopted, Popcorn Park will be seeking forever homes for the 24 remaining dogs. The dogs range in ages and each will be altered before leaving Popcorn Park, she said. The adoption fee includes a collar, tag, leash, all vaccinations, a …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
On Friday, Oct. 5, Rev. John Cardello blessed the residents of Popcorn Park Zoo and the shelter
The Blessing of the Animals is celebrated annually at Popcorn Park Zoo in honor of the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is known for his love for animals. On Friday, Oct. 5, Rev. John Cardello went to Popcorn Park to celebrate the feast day by blessing the residents of Popcorn Park, Director John Bergmann said. “The weather was beautiful as the Reverend walked through and blessed the many inhabitants of the park,” he said. “Rev. Cardello has done this for the last couple years and has got to know some of the animals here very well, so it gave him a chance to spend some time with his friends Princess and Mickey.” Rev. Cardello proceeded to the shelter to bless the dogs and cats waiting for forever homes, Bergmann said, paying close…
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Associated Humane Societies is promoting Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month
Popcorn Park will be receiving a large group of furry guests this weekend. Twenty-three chihuahuas will arrive at Robert Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township on Sunday. The little dogs are being transported from Gates, N.C. by Pilot-N-Paws, an organization that transfers rescue animals to shelters and foster homes. “Chihuahua Rescue and Transport, Inc. contacted Associated Humane Societies to help with a sad situation,” Renee Szorosy said. A North Carolina “animal lover” and her husband were caring for 32 Chihuahuas when the wife unexpectedly passed away, leaving her husband to care for these dogs all alone, she said. The deceased woman’s sister, a New Jersey resident, found homes for some of the dogs. She then reached off to Chihuahua …
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
After starting the shelter with just a fawn and raccoon, the nonprofit will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a series of events starting Saturday, Sept. 22
It all started with a fawn and a raccoon. The Associated Humane Societies and Popcorn Park began their venture in Lacey 35 years ago as a dog and cat shelter and adoption center, servicing the local community and area. “We wanted to become a better service,” Director John Bergmann said, adding that people typically had to go up to the Tinton Falls location to get their dogs or cats. “We wanted to expand and do a better job.” While the nonprofit organization was building in Lacey in 1977, a fawn was picked up and had to be bottle fed and cared for, he said. Then, the staff received a call from Beachwood about a raccoon that was stuck in a leg hold trap. Without veterinary staff in place locally, the raccoon had to go further north. The leg …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Unveiling and dedication of the new habitat will be held on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m.
In the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare, slow and steady wins the race. And so it is with the State's Move-Over Law, which requires motorists to move over and slow down for emergency vehicles with flashing lights. This message will be incorporated into Popcorn Park Zoo's new habitat for box turtles, which will be unveiled and dedicated in honor of fallen Trooper Marc Castellano on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. Castellano died of injuries he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle while searching for a suspect in 2010. His mother, Donna Setaro of Lacey, has made it her mission to promote the State’s Move-Over Law. “The turtle habitat is in memory of my son and dedicated to the men and women protected by the State’s Move-Over Law,” she said…
Monday, February 6, 2012
Perhaps Princess the Camel's prediction put the Giants over the hump?
Princess the Camel of Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township has once again lived up to her reputation as a football pick prognosticator: The camel predicted the New York Giants would come out on top in Super Bowl XLVI. Princess, who has been prognosticating for the past six years, has the uncanny ability to predict the outcomes of games, said John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park. “What started out as a fun weekly activity a few years ago has become an annual tradition,” Bergmann previously said. “Princess has her own fan base — probably as strong as some of this year’s NFL quarterbacks. She is definitely our MVP.” Princess was right 14 out of 20 games this NFL season and picked the Giants throughout the playoffs. “She seems to be a …
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
7 big cats move to Popcorn Park after they were found neglected on a farm in Texas
In the depths of the Pinelands in the Bamber Lake section of Lacey Township, seven new big cats are living the good life at Popcorn Park. The cats, known as the Texas 7, were found by an exotic sanctuary neglected on a Texas farm, some in small horse stalls, others imprisoned in outdoor cages. Popcorn Park is now home to Porthos, a male lion; Taj, a tiger; four female cougars; and one male cougar. “We’ll learn more about them as the days go by but from now on they will never want for clean water, proper diet, a clean den and big yards to play in,” Popcorn Park General Manager John Bergmann said. Bergmann got word of the wild cats from Vickey Keahey, owner of InSync Exotics, an exotic cat sanctuary in Texas. There were more than 20 big cats…
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Alicia Kelly
9:38 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Couldn't have said it better... more ›