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Every pet deserves a spot on the tree. On Tuesday, November 17, 2026, the Hudson County Animal League (HCAL) celebrates its 22nd annual Santa Paws Tree with a party in the lobby of Bayonne Public Library, 697 Avenue C, in Hudson County, NJ. For a donation of $10 or more, you can have an ornament made for your pet, whether they are curled up beside you today or are remembered with love.
It is one of Bayonne’s sweetest holiday traditions, and it supports an all volunteer rescue that has been helping homeless cats since 1994. Here is what our team confirmed from HCAL and the library.
Santa Paws Tree Party at a Glance
- Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m., with the library listing the event until 8:45 p.m.
- Location: Lobby, Bayonne Public Library, 697 Avenue C, Bayonne
- Ornament: a picture or name ornament for a donation of $10 or more, all donations tax deductible
- Details: library event page and the HCAL events page
How the Santa Paws Tree Works
The tree honors all pets, from paws and claws to feathers, fur, fins and scales. Each ornament is created with your pet’s picture or name, then hung on the tree for everyone to see. To request one, pick up a form at the library or follow the instructions on the event page.
The tree stays on display at Bayonne Public Library through January 10. After January 2, you can claim your ornament and save it for your own tree next year. Refreshments are part of the party on November 17, so it is a relaxed way to meet other Bayonne pet lovers.
Save the Date: Holiday Tricky Tray on December 5
HCAL’s other big holiday fundraiser is its Holiday Tricky Tray on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at Trinity Church, 141 Broadway, in Bayonne. The event runs from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and HCAL notes that no one is admitted before then. Tickets are $15 per person, and HCAL’s events page lists Cheryl at 201-736-7560 for tickets. A tricky tray is a classic New Jersey fundraiser where guests buy tickets and drop them in the cups for the prizes they hope to win.
About the Hudson County Animal League
HCAL was incorporated in 1994 and is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization approved by the State of New Jersey Department of Health as an adoption agency. It is an all volunteer, all foster group that takes in cats, provides veterinary care and finds them permanent homes. The league also promotes spay and neuter services, runs a low cost spay and neuter program accepted by veterinary clinics in Bayonne and Jersey City, and supports the trap, neuter and release approach to feral cat management.
Want to adopt, report a cat that needs help or ask about volunteering? Start at hcalnj.org. HCAL’s mailing address is P.O. Box 4332, Bayonne, NJ 07002.
More Holiday Plans in Hudson County
Build out your November with our things to do in Hudson County in November guide, then look ahead to December with our roundup of Hudson County holiday markets. For this week’s picks, check things to do in Hudson County this weekend.
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Featured photo: Jim Henderson, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
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