Janice and her border collie mix, Beemer.

by Len Lear

-- Part two

Janice Kingsbury, who was profiled in an article last week in Local Life, was a school psychologist for 18 years and a teacher of special needs children, but she retired in 2013, long before the usual retirement age, to devote much more time and energy to her volunteer work as a dog rescuer. She has rescued countless dogs and found homes for them over the last 20 years, and she has been a foster mother to 30 dogs over the last four years.

Janice also takes therapy dogs, including two of her own, to area nursing homes, schools and libraries. She has also written children's books starring her dogs to raise awareness of animal rescue. The first is titled “Lexi Goes on Vacation to the Outer Banks.” The second is “Chihuahuas Like Cheese.” Both are available on Amazon, her website and in various stores. Her third book will be out in the spring and is part of the series about the adventures of Bogie, the Chihuahua.

“With regard to other animal rescue and avocation,” she said last week, “I recently attending a grass roots rally at the Rancocas Nature Center hosted by the Humane Society for bills SCR175/ACR250. Leghold traps have been banned in New Jersey since 1984 because the legislature rightfully found them inhumane, but the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has reinstated them for the first time in 30 years, against state statue. Opening up the ban of these inhumane traps will bring massive suffering to wildlife and unintended targets such as cats and dogs.

“Additionally, I have participated in demonstrations in Trenton in favor of a bill that would ban the agricultural practice of housing pigs in tiny gestation crates their entire lives. In spite of the fact that the overwhelming majority of voters in New Jersey favored the ban of gestation crates, Gov. Christie vetoed the bill (S1921), leading many people to believe the vote was intended to solicit favor from the Iowa pork farmers in an attempt to gain their votes in the 2016 Presidential campaign.

“I have to wonder about a man who can turn his back on the suffering and pain of any animal. Pigs literally are confined to such a small area during gestation that it prevents the sow from turning around freely, lying down, standing up or fully extending their limbs. Christie called the bill 'a solution in search of a problem.' Obviously he is not a compassionate person, and I expect his lack of kindness will be demonstrated in his treatment of bills that protect our children, disabled and elderly as well.”

Janice has even gone to North Carolina to work with The Wild Horse Museum, a 501c corporation which cares for and advocates for the wild horses of Corolla, NC. There are currently only 86 left where there used to be thousands, and the breed is in danger of extinction.

Kingsbury has also raised money for the animal shelter in Westhampton, NJ., and has put on several fundraisers for Burlington County Animal Alliance.

“Sometimes, a stroll down the beach with my seven dogs off-leash helps dogs in other ways,” she said. “People are surprised at how good and friendly the dogs are. They are advocates, too, because they are good role models. People say to me, 'My dog would never stay with me like that,' and I respond, 'Yes they would, but you have to teach him/her to do that.'

“For now, I want to finish my third book, and I expect to spend a lot of time marketing it, but I really cherish spending time around positive people who do positive things. I also have a line of greeting cards that I am revising, and I hope to get them online soon for sale.”

When asked what person, living or deceased, she would most like to spend time with, Janice replied, “I would choose Mahatma Gandhi, who was a brilliant, wise and kind man. My favorite quote of his: 'The good man is the friend of all living things.' It’s a creed I try to live by. And I would love an audience with Bruce Springsteen. He’s talented, homey and cute. He still finds time for a career and supports a number of causes, including animal rights.”

More information at www.janicekingsburywriter.com or janicekingsbury4@gmail.com.