Asbury Park Awards MCSPCA Animal Control Contract
Quinn: MCSPCA provides a higher quality of care and better environment for the animals
The Asbury Park City Council unanimously voted Wednesday night to award its animal control contract to the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [MCSPCA] in Eatontown.
“It has been my experience that the MCSPCA provides a higher quality of care and better environment for the animals,” said Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn in a written statement. “Their state of art facility, stronger infrastructure and more robust volunteer program [which even allows some volunteers to take dogs home for brief periods to unwind] will ensure Asbury Park’s strays have a better quality of life for the duration of their stay, giving them a better chance to be rehomed and not euthanized unless for medical or behavioral reasons.”
Quinn, who has been vocal about concerns surrounding the city’s prior agreement with the Associated Humane Society [AHS] in Tinton Falls said, “this has been two years in the making.”
The thread broke after AHS opted to cancel its relationship with over 100 volunteers following allegations that volunteers were responsible for the death and injuries of animals in their care.
The volunteers protested, including Quinn, who had been a volunteer at the facility since 2011.
“AHS is spreading false information about the volunteer program,” volunteer Jeffrey Seeds of Asbury Park said at the time. “We are trying to set the record straight.”
Quinn was the sole no vote in the 2016 contract with AHS, saying “I understand why the city is doing this but, in good conscience, I cannot vote for an organization that puts down Monmouth County Dogs. I looked everywhere under the sun to get anyone else to take Asbury Park. Because we have so many pits [Pit Bulls], and so many [other] dogs and cats, it’s very hard to get anyone to take us on; quite frankly nobody else will.”
Wednesday night’s approval shifts animal control from a ‘kill shelter’ to a ‘no-kill shelter.’
“I think our shelter is better than no-kill shelters that close their doors to everyone except those with healthy animals,” AHS General Manager Veronica Ehrenspeck has said. “We’ll take every, and any animal, and will do our best for every animal that walks through our door.”
According to the MCSPCA website, the nonprofit’s mission ‘is to protect and advocate for all animals.’
“We are dedicated to enforcing animal cruelty laws; providing a safe haven for homeless, abused and abandoned pets while they await adoption; reducing pet overpopulation through spay/neutering; and cultivating their humane treatment through education and service as a valuable community resource.”
The 2017 animal control contract was awarded at a $56,400.00 base rate.
The MCSPCA is located at 260 Wall Street in Eatontown. Their hours of operation are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit monmouthcountyspca.org.
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