HOW YOU CAN HELP    The veterinary care for animals injured as a result of cruelty is a financial hardship for the shelter. If you could find it in your heart to reach out to these deserving animals, please mail a contribution to the address on the right.

Monmouth County SPCA  Humane Law Enforcement Division  260 Wall St., P.O. Box 93  Eatontown, NJ 07724

PAST CASES

February, 2005 Chief Amato Attacked in the Line of Duty Humane Law Enforcement is a dangerous business for both for pets and people. The MCSPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Buddy Amato, was attacked recently while responding to a cruelty complaint in North Middletown. The man was threatening to kill a little Yorkie who he was choking when Buddy arrived on the scene. Little did the perpetrator know that Chief Amato has a 10th degree black belt in Karate. When the man rushed Buddy with a martial arts weapon Buddy quickly took him to the ground and handcuffed him. The man was placed under arrest and is in jail with a $40,000 bail. He faces numerous assault and battery charges in addition to animal cruelty. The little Yorkie has been placed in a foster home January, 2005 All pet owners are legally required to provide the animals in their care with sufficient food and water as well as adequate housing. During the frigid days of Winter, it is all too common for our Humane Law Enforcement Division (HLED) to receive complaints about animals whose owners are either unwilling or unable to provide even this minimum amount of basic care. The results are always tragic and sometimes even fatal, as illustrated by two recent cases investigated by our HLED. CASE 1: After receiving a call from a neighbor about a multi-dog Asbury Park household in which the dogs were kept outside with no food or shelter, our officers were relieved to find three dogs--a mom (shown to the left) and her two pups (one of which is shown to the left)--still alive. The little family was cold and emaciated but their prospects are good for a full recovery and adoption into new loving families. They are recovering under the care of our MCSPCA staff and will be available for adoption as soon as their health improves. Unfortunately, for two other dogs on the property, help came too late. By the time our officers arrived, the pair had already succumbed to malnutrition and exposure. Cruelty charges against the owners are pending. CASE 2: Unlike the Asbury Park case, where the owners were unwilling to provide for their animals, the owners in our second case were unable to care for either themselves or their animals. After losing their home over a year ago, the two individuals were forced to live in their car, along with their cat, two cockatiels and a ferret (shown to the right). Acting on a tip from a Good Samaritan, Humane Law Enforcement Division officers investigated and found all animals undernourished and suffering from exposure. All were confiscated by the MCSPCA where the cat will be placed up for adoption and the birds and ferret released to a rescue group. Our Humane Law Enforcement Division relies on the public for tips about situations of suspected animal abuse and neglect. If you know of animals are being not being treated humanely, we urge you to contact our HLED promptly by calling the shelter at 732-542-0040 (we do not accept reports by email, you must call). We will ask only for information, you will be able to remain anonymous. Had our officers been informed of the neglectful conditions in both these cases even a few days earlier, they might have been able to save the lives of the two dogs who died and could have put an earlier end to the suffering of the others. Read some cold weather tips for your pet on our Information Page. This is a letter we received. It illustrates the huge uphill battle we face. The law as it stands today would not allow us to help this dog, since as long as there is adequate food, water and shelter we cannot do anything. Laws need to be changed so pets like Becky can be helped. It is not enough to provide shelter, food and water. Pets need companionship and love, and people need to be educated to that fact- that having a dog and cat is a lifelong responsibility that includes caring. Most of all, this letter shows us the kindness of people who want to help. Every day, they made Becky's life a bit brighter. These people made a difference and we thank them. Becky thanks them. Even though there was little we could do for Becky, she is now in a better place, knowing that people cared for her. Dear Friends, Please accept this check in memory of "Becky" for a perpetual ornament for the Monmouth County SPCA "Giving Tree". We are a group of co-workers who came to work every morning passing a dilapidated house in Red Bank with a backyard overrun by tall grass, cans, broken glass strewn about, and a run down shed which was supposed to be her shelter. In the midst of all this there was "Becky", a Golden Retriever who we befriended. She was a senior dog, 12 - 14 years old, but she was loving and always happy to see anyone passing her yard. She knew the time we would pass in the mornings and the evenings and be at the fence, just for the attention and the biscuits we treated her with. As for her owners, they ignored her and left her outside most of the time. Even though the shed was a shelter, "Becky" did not know this, nor have the insight to go in and be protected from the rain. She was ungroomed and suffered from cataracts (so her vision was impaired). We were upset by her living conditions and called the MCSPCA and Captain Amato did come out to investigate but he could not do anything (legally) since there was shelter, food and water but very little else. The evening of Wednesday, November 10th, "Becky" was not at the fence when we left work. The back storm door to the house was wide open and "Becky's water and food bowls were out. The house looked empty. No lights were on. The next morning as we came to work, there laid "Becky", on the back deck "Dead". The back storm door still was wide open. We banged and knocked on the door to no answer. We called the MCSPCA in Eatontown and left a voicemail which was returned to us. We also called an 800 number for the state SPCA. We also called the Red Bank police. They came but would not enter the back yard being fearful of being bitten if "Becky" was not dead. They told us to leave. That morning Captain Amato and Detective Hyer came but they were too late as the owner's boyfriend came home, found the dog, and "buried it" in the backyard. It is sad and sickening to think that this elderly dog died by herself without anyone comforting her or coming to her immediate aid in her final hours. We truly miss her and pray that she is in a far better place. Friends of "Becky"

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Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown NJ, 07724, 732-542-0040 We are open Saturday-Wednesday 1 PM - 5 PM, Thursday-Friday 1 PM - 6 PM Click Here For Directions Copyright 2000, MCSPCA