Our Story
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide shelter, care and love for the unwanted, abused, and/or abandoned animals of Cape May County. Animal Outreach strongly endorses spay and neutering programs and is committed to helping educate our community in responsible pet ownership. We are a “no kill” organization. Our adoption program has helped to greatly reduce the numbers of homeless animals in our county. We encourage cooperation between municipal and private shelters to coordinate efforts to eliminate the tragedy of animal homelessness.
Who We Are
Animal Outreach is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping the abused, abandoned, and neglected animals of Cape May County. Animal Outreach (AO) began as a fostering network in 1998, and we still use our foster homes to rehabilitate and care for animals in need.
There is a tremendous need for our services, and we hope to continue our mission well into the future. We are a small operation with a big heart and bigger plans. And the community is behind us in reaching our goals. We hope you can help us with our commitment to the animals. Please contact us and let us know how you can help!
PROUD MEMBER
"The Humans"
Shelley VanDyke
President
A native of Michigan, Shelley moved to the Cape May area in 2000 after working in the corporate world for many years. She has been involved with Animal Outreach since 2006. Shelley is a full-time Realtor and has 3 rescue cats and one dog who definitely rule the roost!
Nadya Gallagher
Recording Secretary
Nadya is recently retired from the pharmaceutical industry after 25 years. She resides in Cape May with her husband John and several rescue cats. She has been actively been involved with Animal Outreach since 2010.
Harry C. Bellangy
Board Chair
Harry is a retired computer system architect and has been involved with Animal Outreach since the 90s. Harry lives in Cape May and is active in historic preservation. He has a number of well loved rescued cats.
Caroline Ranoia
Board Member
Caroline is a 29-year retail veteran behind Stone Harbor’s Blue Eden, yet her truest passion lies in advocating for those with four legs and a tail. As the visionary behind brands like Sea Foam Soap Company and her pet boutique, Oliver & Twist, Caroline balances her creative business success with tireless work for stray animals both locally and globally. Whether she is mentoring emerging artists or providing a "soft place to land" for an animal in need, Caroline’s life and work are defined by her devotion to rescue and her belief that every living being deserves a win.
Terri Werner
Vice Chair/Clinic Manager
Retired after 20+ years as a partner in the wellness center she co-founded, Terri began volunteering at Animal Outreach in 2012. She is a member of the City of Cape May Zoning Board and enjoys creating jewelry which can be found in her Etsy shop. She resides in Cape May with her husband and several rescue cats.
Cheryl Alesandrine
Adoption Center Manager
Cheryl is a retired Atlantic City school teacher and part-time Personal Trainer. Cheryl came to Animal Outreach in March of 2025. She is a certified Animal Control Officer and founder of Beacon Animal Rescue. She resides in Town Bank with her husband Jody and their dog and 2 cats. She also boards 2 horses locally.
Cindy Huf
Treasurer
Cindy is a wholesale and retail business owner who has been living and working in Cape May for over 50 years. She enjoys travel, reading, spending her free time outdoors, and sharing her Cold Spring home with a friendly group of adopted feline and canine family members.
CJ Zuber
Adoption Center Assistant Manager
CJ moved to Cape May with her little family in July of 2025 and officially joined the Animal Outreach team at the beginning of 2026. She has lived all over the country with her USCG spouse and daughter and has collected many cats along the way. This crazy cat lady can usually be found at one of the local library branches or coffee shops.
Thank you to our community supporters!
“Never be embarrassed by how much you care about animals and how they're treated.”