The county of Monmouth The MCSPCA, the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is commemorating eight decades of saving the lives of needy animals.
In order to provide care for the homeless, abandoned, and neglected animals in the neighborhood, animal lovers and humanitarians created the MCSPCA in 1945. Board members were taking care of the animals in their houses during this period. This marked the beginning of Monmouth County’s lengthy history of animal rescue.
The group was formally incorporated in 1945. The MCSPCA claims that it raised money on Wall Street to purchase land on a former poultry farm. For many years, the shelter was housed in an old house with wire pens.
When board members took turns paying the energy and heat bills, Dennis Bailey took over the shelter in 1964 with plans for improvements. They helped shelter thousands of animals by collaborating with ACO Gloria Cook and the local police.
To assist area veterinarians, the MCSPCA launched its spay and neuter program in 1983.
According to the group, the MCSPCA’s purpose has always been to curb overpopulation and provide affordable spay/neuter services.
With more than 7,000 animals entering and leaving the shelter at the time, the workforce swelled to 14 caregivers. 600 incidences of animal abuse were also looked upon.
In 1995, the group commemorated its 50th anniversary by expanding its fundraising activities, building a new shelter clinic, and creating the Maureen O. Brien Thrift Store. Additionally, this resulted in the shelter’s 2006 renovation under Executive Director Ursula Goetz.
After taking over as Executive Director in 2015, Ross Licitra quickly started to implement improvements to the county’s and the state’s Humane Law Enforcement practices. Additionally, they started offering municipalities animal control services.
Over 270 dogs were rescued when the MCSPCA looked into, organized, and prosecuted the state’s greatest known case of dog hoarding a year later.
In 2017, the clinic at the shelter became one of the first full-service animal hospitals in the region to operate out of a shelter.
The non-profit group is still working toward its initial goal of helping the homeless, abused, and abandoned animals in the neighborhood. The staff has increased from 14 individuals to around 100 full-time and part-time personnel during the last 40 years. For the benefit of animals and local residents of all ages, the shelter has been able to broaden its programming and reach throughout the county and beyond.
The Monmouth County SPCA has been a pillar of compassion in this community for eight decades. “We have benefited thousands of animals and their loved ones through our adoption services, veterinary care, outreach programs, and education initiatives,” stated Executive Director Ross Licitra. We take pride in being the state’s leaders in Humane Law Enforcement, establishing a benchmark for advocacy and animal protection. This accomplishment is a testament to our hardworking staff and the steadfast support of a community that feels all animals should have access to safety, care, and a second shot at love.
In addition to responding to thousands of animal control calls and investigating hundreds of acts of animal cruelty, the MCSPCA is still adopting thousands of animals to their permanent homes. They have extended their activities, refurbished the Vogel Veterinary Hospital, and constructed a barn to store more food in recent years.
One of New Jersey’s most reputable animal shelters, the Monmouth County SPCA serves as a model for other shelters throughout the state. According to the charity, we will keep reaching out to help more animals and advocate for those who are voiceless.
