Popcorn Park Zoo Petition Attracts Support From Lacey Residents

LACEY, NJ — Over 400 Lacey residents have signed a petition to establish the Popcorn Park Zoo as Lacey’s animal control officer (ACO) instead of the township's current pest control company. Advocates and residents voiced support for the Popcorn Park Zoo at a township committee meeting Thursday.

According to the petition, the Popcorn Park Zoo can provide a TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) program for feral cats versus the current program, which shelters feral cats for one week and then euthanizes them.

The Lacey Township Committee and the Lacey Board of Health will decide by January 2021 whether to award the ACO contract to Popcorn Park Zoo or renew the current contract with A-Academy Termite and Pest Control.

During public comment, advocates and residents addressed Board of Health Liaison, Peter Curatolo, to express their support for Popcorn Park Zoo to receive the ACO contract.

“These cats can be socialized and adopted, so what happens with our current program is the current ACO brings them to [Friends of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter] who has no other choice but to euthanize after seven days,” said Lisa Tarzia, a co-author of the petition.

With a TNVR program, Tarzia said cats are neutered and vaccinated, and released the following day. This program is more effective at controlling the feral cat population and creates more space in the shelter for other stray, abandoned or injured dogs and cats.

Tarzia added that TNVR programs are less costly for Lacey tax payers opposed to euthanasia. She confirmed that Popcorn Park will not charge more than the contract yearly fee to offer a TNVR program.

Barry Bender, another co-author of the petition, announced 436 Lacey residents had signed it, as of Thursday evening.

“The people who signed the petition wish to convey upon the Board of Health that we would prefer they chose Popcorn Park as their animal control officer,” Bender said.

Bender said he specified at the top of the petition that only Lacey residents should sign their names in their support. Despite this, the petition achieved international attention, attracting supporters from other towns, states and countries, bringing the overall total to 738 signatures.

Several other Lacey residents spoke during public comment in support of the Popcorn Park Zoo.

“These animals, they’re not pests. They’re sick, they’re lost, they’re cold...They need some sort of humane solution," said Alison Lemke.

Lemke added that awarding the contract to Popcorn Park Zoo would fall in line with supporting local businesses, which committee members had advocated for at the start of the meeting.

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