10/16/2026
Get Inked and Raise Funds for Voorhees Animal Orphanage through October
168 Tattoo in Pennsauken is offering animal-themed flash tattoos through Oct. 31, with part of each tattoo supporting daily operations at the Animal Orphanage in Voorhees.
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A new tattoo can be a keepsake, a memorial or a conversation starter. At 168 Tattoo in Pennsauken this month, it can also help keep the lights on, kennels stocked and animals cared for at the Animal Orphanage in Voorhees.
The Route 38 tattoo shop is offering animal-themed flash tattoos throughout October to benefit the nonprofit shelter. Black-and-gray designs measuring 4 to 5 inches cost $120, with a portion of each tattoo supporting the Animal Orphanage’s general operations. (Flash tattoos are ready made designs available at a studio.)
The fundraiser runs through Saturday, Oct. 31 and appointments can be made by texting “SHOP” to 856-742-9699.
For owner Leah Fichter, the monthly fundraising work is inseparable from the business she and her husband, Rick, have operated since 2012.
168 Tattoo consistently does fundraisers for a myriad of efforts ranging from breast cancer research to veteran causes and an upcoming collaboration with An Itch In Time, the local mangy fox rescue.
“I want my shop to always come up in conversation as 'the tattoo shop that does the fundraisers,’” Fichter said. “You don’t need to know my name, but that’s the shop.”
A Long-running Partnership
The October campaign is not the first collaboration between 168 Tattoo and the Animal Orphanage. Jennifer Bailey, the shelter’s marketing director, said the organizations have worked together for years, typically holding two or three tattoo fundraisers annually.
Fichter initially connected with the shelter after looking for ways to expand the causes supported through her shop. Her interest in animal welfare predates the tattoo business: She worked in veterinary medicine while in college, where she said she encountered the realities of animal neglect and abuse.
The experience was difficult enough that she changed fields, turning instead to art and her husband's tattooing skills as a way to build a platform for animal advocacy.
“Doing the fundraisers, I definitely think that it opened the door to find like-minded people,” Fichter said. “The people that want to help.”
Fichter and her husband develop the flash sheets together, creating a mix of seasonal, memorial and animal-inspired designs. October’s sheet includes Halloween elements alongside images that can honor a pet that has died, mark a recent adoption or simply reflect a customer’s love of animals.
The shop has also created a separate space in its building that can host adoption events without bringing animals into the regulated tattoo area. Fichter added that this arrangement has allowed shelters to even bring adoptable pets to the business while customers receive tattoos.
Fichter warns that newcomers to the shop should be ready for a space designed less like a conventional studio and more like a densely collected home. She describes a space filled with antiques and found objects and lists a plane mounted to the ceiling and a baboon in the waiting room as a few of the main attractions.
"My favorite is the carousel horse," said Fichter. "It's actually on a rocker, so you can ride it as an adult."
More Than a Flash Design
The Animal Orphanage relies heavily on community support for its work caring for homeless animals. Bailey said the tattoo fundraiser is not tied to one animal or emergency; proceeds are intended to support the shelter’s daily operations.
Bailey said the tattoo promotion offers an especially direct way for people who have considered getting ink to support the shelter.
“If you’ve ever been thinking about it, why not do it now when you can not only get your ink for the first time, but you’re gonna help homeless animals in need,” Bailey said.
Fichter said the tattoos often carry personal stories beyond the fundraiser itself, from a paw print for a pet that died, an image commemorating a dog adopted from a rescue or a design marking a new bond with an animal.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just a tattoo,” Fichter said. “The stories are much more.”
Woofstock Rescheduled for November
The tattoo drive arrives as the Animal Orphanage prepares to regroup after its annual Woofstock event was postponed because of the Nor’easter. The festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Voorhees Town Center.
The event is expected to include food trucks, vendors, a b**r garden and other activities. About 90 percent of vendors were able to commit to the new date, according to Bailey. The shelter is also seeking volunteers and may reopen a limited number of vendor spaces.
More information about the rescheduled event is available at www.aonj.org/woofstock.
For those choosing ink this month, the process is easy. Pick from the available flash designs, schedule an appointment and leave with a permanent reminder that a modest local gesture can make an important impact.
Those interested can find additional information about the shop at www.168tattoonj.com.
