Stephanie Maulbeck, an animal care specialist at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, pets Beatrice, a cat ready for adoption, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is looking to place as many cats and dogs as possible into foster care during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Stuck at home for two weeks or more? Now might be the perfect time to add a furry friend to the family, even if it’s just temporarily.

As the growing coronavirus pandemic sweeps through New Jersey, shutting down non-essential businesses and forcing people to stay at home, animal shelters and rescues are facing many of their own challenges and fears.

Not having enough volunteers to help. More people needing to give up their animals. Losing funding due to a drop in retail sales.

But above all, their biggest concern is making sure the cats and dogs are being taken care of.

"One thing that the public needs to hear through all of this is that one of the main goals in this is to take care of the animals that we've got," said Deborah Yankow, shelter manager at Bergen County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Teterboro.

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Veterinary technician Samantha Friedman, who also manages the NICU Kitten Nursery at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, dries a new kitten after it was given a bath in Dawn dish soap to rid him of fleas, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is continuing to intake animals during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

With Bergen County seeing the majority of positive COVID-19 cases in the state, the shelter closed to the public on Tuesday for adoptions to ensure the safety of the employees and volunteers.

"If all my staff gets sick, who's going to take care of those animals?" said Yankow, noting that approximately 150 cats and 70 dogs are currently housed in the shelter.

While St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison remains open -- the North Branch and Noah's Ark locations are temporarily closed for adoptions -- staff are taking extra precautions by cleaning and sanitizing public and common areas multiple times a day as well as limiting the number of people inside the shelter at any one time, said Michelle Thevenin, Chief Operating Officer of St. Hubert's.

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. volunteer Noelle Bruno, of Galloway, feeds the free-roaming cats their afternoon meal at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by volunteers and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Smaller rescue groups are facing different challenges during this pandemic.

Randall's Rescue, a non-profit in South Jersey, has removed all of their cats from its PetSmart adoption location.

Prior to approving adoptions, "we typically do home visits, so we are being very selective about that and some of them are being done virtually via FaceTime or other phone apps," said Cindy Randall.

For Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S., its Mew to You Retail Shoppe in Ocean City is a main source of funding for the rescue.

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. founder/director Judy Cantin, left, and volunteer Noelle Bruno, of Galloway, feed the free-roaming cats at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by Cantin and volunteers, and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

"Sales are very slow," said Judy Cantin, founder and director of Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S., on Wednesday.

Due to the business being classified as non-essential, the retail shop -- which also houses two large cat rooms where most of the cats are free-roaming -- announced its temporary closure Friday night.

"The well-being of the cats/kittens here at Mew IS essential," Cantin said in a Facebook post.

"Our volunteers will be here to provide care, socialization and enrichment for our felines."

And cats and kittens can still be adopted here, but by appointment only.

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Animal care specialist Annette Kalawur, right, and medical technician Alexandra Rasenchuk examine Chief at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is looking to place as many cats and dogs as possible into foster care during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Barbara Damico, a boardmember of The Pet Adoption League in Hackettstown, worries that the coronavirus pandemic will lead to animals being surrendered.

"My biggest fear is this: people will be looking to get rid of their animals because they have no money to feed them," said Damico. "And we won't have the resources to take them in."

Yankow and her staff are working hard to discourage non-emergency surrenders in their contracted towns Bergen and Hudson counties.

"We're encouraging people to ride this out and keep them for now," said Yankow, adding that while there are many reasons people surrender their pets -- such as evictions, homelessness, and illness -- reducing the burden on shelters and rescues at this time is especially important.

Thevenin also said that St. Hubert's will work with people who are considering surrendering their pets due to sickness or financial strain with the goal of keeping their pet in the home by providing support services.

So how can you help?

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Bruno looks on at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is taking precautionary steps to disinfect public and common areas during the coronavirus outbreak, and is continuing animal adoptions at this time. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

ADOPT

Now may be a great time to consider adding a furry friend to your household. Being less "on the go" gives people more time to acclimate a pet into their homes and more time to bond with them.

St. Hubert's currently has a "Name Your Own Fee" adoption special happening, if you're looking for a new buddy to keep you company while working from home.

"We are encouraging serious adopters only -- that is people who are ready to come in and adopt the same day," Thevenin said.

Also be sure to check out your local rescue groups for pets available for adoption as well.

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St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center volunteer Denise Pecheur holds Fritz in the NICU Kitten Nursery, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Pecheur picked up Fritz to foster him during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

FOSTER

If you're not ready to make a full-time commitment but are looking for a companion while working from home, consider fostering a cat or dog. Many shelters, including Bergen County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center and St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, are looking to get these animals into a home environment, even if just temporarily.

Fostering provides important socialization and one-on-one care which will help ready the pet for a home of its own.

St. Hubert's will provide all you need -- including food, blankets, litter, and all other items required to care for the animal -- and is currently offering curbside pickup once a match is made.

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. volunteer Rebecca Selby socializes the cats in one of the adoption rooms at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by volunteers and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

VOLUNTEER

If you have some extra time on your hands -- and you're well and non-symptomatic, noted Yankow -- it's a good time to reach out to your local shelter or rescue.

"We rely on volunteers 100% and have definitely seen a decline in willingness to help especially in the older volunteers, who are more worried about coming in contact with the coronavirus," said Randall.

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. founder/director Judy Cantin, right, and volunteer Noelle Bruno, of Galloway, prep food for the cats at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by Cantin and volunteers, and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

DONATE

Monetary donations are always needed, and as always, check with your local shelter for specific items they may need, and what they can and can't accept.

Food, litter, cleaning supplies, toys -- if it's pet-related, they likely need it. Some places will accept gently used items, but call ahead to ensure these items can be used, as protocols may have changed during the coronavirus outbreak.

"This is a time to pull together," said Yankow.

Scroll below for more photos of shelters and rescues in action.

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Nick Eckert, a veterinary technician in the NICU Kitten Nursery, right, and Nursery manager Samantha Friedman examine new kittens during intake at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is continuing to intake animals during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Renee Thomaier, an animal care specialist at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, processes adoption paperwork, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is taking precautionary steps to disinfect public and common areas during the coronavirus outbreak, and is continuing animal adoptions at this time. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Tracey Bednash, a canine behavior technician at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, works with Bruno, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is taking precautionary steps to disinfect public and common areas during the coronavirus outbreak, and is continuing animal adoptions at this time. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. founder/director Judy Cantin says hello to Mallory in one of the cat rooms at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Mallory is one of numerous cats up for adoption through the rescue. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by Cantin and volunteers, and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Veterinary technician Samantha Friedman, who also manages the NICU Kitten Nursery at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, cuddles a new kitten, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is continuing to intake animals during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. volunteer Rebecca Selby gives treats to the cats in one of the adoption rooms at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by volunteers and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Animal care specialist Annette Kalawur checks for a microchip on Chief at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is looking to place as many cats and dogs as possible into foster care during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Veterinary technician Samantha Friedman, who also manages the NICU Kitten Nursery, left, and vet tech Nick Eckert work on the intake of new kittens at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is continuing to intake animals during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. volunteer Noelle Bruno, of Galloway, carries trays of cat food to the cat rooms for their afternoon feeding at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by volunteers and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center volunteer Denise Pecheur plays with Fritz in the NICU Kitten Nursery, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Pecheur picked up Fritz to foster him during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Veterinary technician Samantha Friedman, who also manages the NICU Kitten Nursery at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, combs a new kitten to check for fleas, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is continuing to intake animals during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Stephanie Maulbeck, an animal care specialist at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, pets Beatrice, a cat ready for adoption, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is looking to place as many cats and dogs as possible into foster care during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Tracey Bednash, a canine behavior technician at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, gives Bruno a treat, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is taking precautionary steps to disinfect public and common areas during the coronavirus outbreak, and is continuing animal adoptions at this time. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Cape-Atlantic C.A.T.S. volunteer Noelle Bruno, of Galloway, socializes the cats in one of the adoption rooms at Mew to You retail store in Ocean City, N.J., Wednesday, March 18, 2020. While the store is now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the cats are being cared for by volunteers and adoptions continue by appointment. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Nick Eckert, a veterinary technican in the NICU Kitten Nursery at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, examines a new kitten, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. St. Hubert's is continuing to intake animals during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Murphy orders N.J. residents to stay home, closes non-essential retail businesses in state lockdown to fight coronavirus

Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Lori on Instagram at @photog_lori and Twitter @photoglori. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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