It was a first for the species of animal that the Associated Humane Societies took in. When Newark Animal Control brought in a horseshoe crab, we marveled at the huge size of this animal. In checking further, it was ascertained that it had been kept as a house pet for the last 15 years! Therefore, the Society decided to find some place where the animal could be kept under safe conditions. Her diet had been boiled chicken breast pieces.

Jenkinson¹s Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach, N J advised that they would take the animal in. She now lives in a community tank with other of her species ...but she is quite big. The mouth is on the underside of the body and the eyes are on the top front part of the shell.

Unfortunately, the horseshoe crab is treated cruelly and taunted because of the unattractive appearance. During spawning, they crowd up on the beach at high tide and females scoop out a hole in the sand and lays her eggs and the males fertilize them. Birds going north will stop to feast on horseshoe crab eggs, fishermen use the eggs as bait & therefore, the population of the horseshoe crab has diminished greatly. The prehistoric looking horseshoe crab has not changed much in the last 350 ­- 400 million years.

We were happy to help this huge crustacean find a new and appropriate home, and delivered her in a saltwater bath to the aquarium. But this is what we do every day - help animals in need find the best of all possible futures. All in a day's work for us, but we couldn't do it without you. Won't you please support our many .. and sometimes unusual ... life-saving efforts!