Dead Dog and Dirty Waters: The Horrific Impact of Waste Pollution

For the past eight years, Tracey Funk Fay, aged 66, has made her home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. From her earliest memories, Tracey has held a deep fascination for birds, boasting the ability to identify them by their distinctive calls. She fondly reminisces about her youth spent hanging bluebird houses. Known as the “Bird Lady of the Parks”, Funk Fay initiated a partnership with the Camden County Parks Department that has erected nearly 100 birdhouses, created in partnership with Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, NJ, enticing wood ducks, screech owls, and swallows that have been absent for multiple years, back into Camden County.?

In 2017, Tracey received the most precious gift: her loyal companion, Jaxsun, a beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Gifted by her daughter, Jaxsun quickly became adored by neighbors?and friends alike. Tracey fondly remembers his exemplary training and gentle demeanor. Jaxsun took on the role of a vigilant guard dog, dutifully watching over the neighborhood. He was adept at listening to commands and often took it upon himself took it upon himself to safeguard not only his own home but also the homes in close proximity.

Tracey had always wished to live in the Cherry Hill trailer parks because she felt the lifestyle was more freeing than owning a big home with empty rooms. Happiness and joy aren't commodities tied to a price tag; for Tracey, the trailer park represented a tiny slice of paradise. Tracey's humble abode lies the entryway to Cooper River Park's trail and has recently been marred by sand, dust, and remnants of prior dumping activities. This area has become a favored spot for outsiders to dispose of their waste, with perpetrators as familiar as Haddonfield Township authorities.?

One cloudy morning, tragedy struck as Tracey’s beloved companion wandered around the house and fell victim to a dreadful accident involving rhubarb. At first, Tracey struggled with locating Jaxsun. Despite desperate hours of searching alongside her friend, they found the poor pup already in distress, pierced by a three-inch-deep penetration of rhubarb. The reason behind this cruel fate remains a haunting mystery. Once Jaxsun was discovered, Tracey quickly proceeded to call the Cherry Hill police department. Dated for 8/23/22, at approximately 11 am, the police report details an “animal incident” in which Tracey explained her dog was impaled by a piece of rhubarb that was stuck in its chest, and filed a report on behalf of retaining evidence of the event. Unfortunately, Tracey inadvertently magnified the situation by removing the rhubarb, resulting in further bleeding. This action occurred approximately two hours before Jaxsun was brought in for medical attention. While it's often depicted in media how pulling foreign objects from wounds can worsen bleeding, clarity can be elusive in the heat of the moment. After meeting with the authorities, Tracey swiftly transported her injured pet to the Red Bank Vetinary Hospital in Mount Laurel, ensuring Jaxsun received the necessary care.?

The bar seemed to have entered Jaxsun's left chest, angling towards the right, causing significant bleeding. According to the veterinarian's notes, it was determined that the metallic bar likely introduced bacteria into Jaxsun's chest. Upon examination, the vet clipped, cleared, and flushed the wound.?

On August 8, 2023, doctors observed symptoms including chronic vomiting, lethargy, colon thickening, lymph node enlargement, and hypoalbuminemia. As indicated by hematology reports, Jaxsun began experiencing decreased platelet levels and plateletcrit on August 15, 2023. Additionally, according to IDEXX analysis, there were abnormalities in total protein, albumin, and ALP levels. Abnormalities in total protein, albumin, and ALP levels can be major red flags for a dog's health. These indicators often point to serious conditions like liver or kidney problems, protein loss, or bone issues. Therefore, a year following the traumatic incident in 2022, Jaxsun was readmitted back into the hospital with a heartbreaking diagnosis of belly cancer at RBVH further compounded the anguish.

Hence, due to the declining quality of life, and the costs of chemotherapy, Jaxsun was brought in for euthanasia.

After the travesty of Jaxsun’s passing, just a year after the incident involving the rhubarb dumping, Tracey wrote a compelling sign that caught my attention during a nightly drive in early March.

“It could have been someone’s child”, she wrote. As a dog parent myself, I like to remind her that it could be someone’s child - but it was hers.

Since the sign posted above, Tracey confirms that the Cherry Hill Board of Directors set up a sign to stop illegal dumping after the death of her baby boy, Jaxsun. Tracey recalls that she spent many years trying to stop the waste dumping, and while it hurts that Jaxsun was the sacrifice to see that change finally be administered, she is grateful to the Cherry Hill township for finally listening to her pleads in mitigating waste disposal risks. That being said, the fight doesn’t stop there.??

The repercussions of negligent waste management extend beyond individual tragedies, posing grave threats to the environment and all its inhabitants, both human and animal alike. We have witnessed the heart-wrenching consequence of improper waste disposal in association with losing a man’s best friend. Furthermore, the detrimental effects extend to persistently harming the environment where people reside. The proximity of the dumping site to Cooper River amplifies these concerns, heightening the risk of escalated pollution and its repercussions on the ecosystem and neighboring communities and/or visitors.

Waste Neglicence and its effect on Cooper River Park

Cooper River Park spans across Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, and Haddon Township. The park is bounded by North and South Park Drives, Route 130, and Grove Street. Right behind Tracey's home, the river flows through her backyard. She's committed to ensuring a haven for children, visitors, and all creatures, drawing from her upbringing to champion a harmonious environment for wildlife and pets alike.?

In its history, post-World War II, Cooper River Park faced neglect due to limited funds and manpower, leading to overgrown vegetation, vandalized facilities, and areas left unusable. Flash forward to 1972 with the implementation of the Clean Water Act, efforts were mandated to cleanse the river, focusing on pollution control and wastewater cleanup. Subsequently, efforts spurred to promote the park’s revitalization. The construction of a new boathouse in 2005 played a crucial role in restoring Cooper River Lake and reviving the park's importance within the rowing community, marking a significant turning point in its revitalization journey.

Due to the proximity of the dump sites that stripped a beloved pet from its home and the affinity the area has for flooding, it is very normal to experience pollution creeping into the river's water. Particularly in Cherry Hill, caution is advised during the rainy season as the river tends to overflow, posing risks to the adjacent bike trails. Therefore, any waste pollution near the river is at risk of seeping into the body of water - especially during heavy downpours.?

Reflecting on the historical context, as They Might Be Giants once sang, "Did you know old New York was once New Amsterdam?" Maybe you heard about it in your history classes, but I didn’t take notice until I was riding shotgun in my friend’s car on a sunny day in Europe. Back in the 17th century, back in the 17th century, during what they call the Dutch Golden Age, the Dutch settled in America, finding refuge at the southern tip of Manhattan. In 1664, the Dutch sold the land to the British, converting New Amsterdam to New York for a mere 60 to avoid a brutal takeover. The British renamed the city New York after the Duke of York organized the takeover. The Dutch reclaimed the area briefly in 1673 and named it New Orange. By 1674, however, the English regained control and created the blueprint of what we now know to be the Big Apple. But, it seems the name wasn’t the only thing that left its imprint on New York’s soil.?

Facing similar flooding issues, New York could learn from the Dutch's innovative coastal management techniques. In efforts to assist with the rising water levels, the Dutch have begun utilizing plants in a form of pioneering coastal management that retains water along the coast of their country and helps deter floods from trailing inwards. Similarly, Tracey Funk Fay has previously assisted Westmont, New Jersey, with implementing a similar system - and actively advocates for the usage of bamboo or other seedlings to help keep water levels at bay.?

Therefore, in the face of rising water levels in Cooper River, exacerbated by climate change, the urgency to address and rectify such environmental hazards becomes all the more pressing. With the illegal dump site tracking in more pollution to the waters, Cooper River Park faces intimate issues within the degradation of their bodies of water. Tracey Funk's lifelong dedication to animal advocacy and environmental protection underscores the urgency of the situation. Not to mention, it can be assumed the overflowing and pollution secretion is causing more issues than previously acknowledged. Concerned neighbors note the absence of summer fish, once abundant in the river.

The question then becomes and today, remains: Where have the fish gone?

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