Monmouth SPCA Closing Freehold Satellite Shelter

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Freehold satellite location of the Monmouth County SPCA will be closing as of Oct. 1 and shifting its work back to the main shelter in Eatontown, the organization has announced.

The Freehold Adoption Center business model was created six years ago and was the first New Jersey retail location of its kind, Monmouth SPCA officials said.

"The Freehold location was a program designed to offer the alternative to adopt a homeless animal rather than purchase dogs from puppy mill breeders, where young female purebreds are used to produce litter after litter, in deplorable conditions," officials said in a news release about the closing. "Since the launch of the Freehold location in 2012, 126 towns have passed anti-puppy mill measures, making New Jersey the leader in the country for local ordinances passed."

The Monmouth County SPCA has been in existence since 1945.

The Freehold location stemmed from a new approach using the retail model of pet stores but changing the sourcing of the animals, helping to make adoptable animals more accessible to the public. The satellite location has also served as an information center where the public could learn about puppy mills, spaying, neutering and community cat services.

With the ever-increasing popularity of the "Adopt, Don’t Shop" movement, rescuing animals has become somewhat of a status symbol among all generations, that of which people are proud to showcase.

To fulfill the supply and demand for adoptable animals, the Monmouth County SPCA developed partnerships with foster-based organizations and shelters in areas of the country where the spay/neuter initiatives had been lacking. Within certain regions, animal overpopulation is a huge problem, giving struggling shelters no choice but to euthanize puppies in heartbreaking numbers.

The Monmouth County SPCA will maintain the number of animals rescued from struggling, over-populated shelters and continue recirculating a portion of adoption fees back to help aid in spay/neuter efforts of the origin shelters.

The animals rescued will now be exclusively available for adoption at their Eatontown location that now has a full-service veterinary clinic and has been seeing more foot traffic than ever.

"We are proud of the message the Freehold Adoption Center has conveyed to the public about the horrific practices of puppy mills and the importance of adoption," said Ross Licitra, the Monmouth SPCA's executive director and chief of Humane Law Enforcement.

"The Monmouth County SPCA’s goal of bringing awareness to puppy mill practices has been a tremendous success and has generated momentum to encourage adoption and responsible pet ownership throughout the state," Licitra said.

In 2017, the Monmouth County SPCA cared for more than 5,700 animals. The organization relies solely on private donations. In addition to adoptions it offers low-cost spay/neuter services, a weekly vaccine clinic, dog training and behavior, humane law enforcement, lost and found, trap neuter and return for free-roaming cats, humane education, pet therapy, and a pet food pantry that helps provide pet food and supplies for low-income families.

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Photo courtesy of the Monmouth County SPCA