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Officers from the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [MCSPCA], local Humane Society and Asbury Park Police provided members of the public with information on the services they provide and what to look for when confronted with a possible animal cruelty situation at a town hall meeting held at the Wonder Bar Wednesday night.

Wonder Bar owner Debbie DeLisa organized the meeting “to make people aware of what to do, when to do it and how to do it” when it comes to calling the authorities about animal abuse issues, she said.

“Asbury Park is a very compassionate town,” said DeLisa. “People here are huge animal lovers.”

By the end of the meeting, Wonder Bar employee Christine Feola created a Facebook page to help gather support to lobby state lawmakers to create legislation that would enact stiffer penalties for perpetrators of animal cruelty.

Feola hopes to get 30,000 “likes” to the page within two weeks, and is aiming for over 100,000 total, she said. Within three hours after the creation of the site, there were already 100.

Animal cruelty was considered a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey, which is a fourth degree crime. If the animal dies the charge is increased to a third degree crime. No mandatory minimum fines or sentences exist for either offense, as all penalties are left up to the discretion of the court.

Fortunately, in Asbury Park, Judge Daniel DiBenedetto “looks out for the SPCA,” said MCSPCA Deputy Chief Larry Donato.

“You’ve got a great judge here,” he said. But “legislation is the only way to bring a mandatory minimum.” Donato and his partner Sgt. William Hyer respond to all of the animal abuse calls in Asbury Park and Neptune, he said.

In the eight years Donato has been with the MCSPCA, the amount of calls his department receives about animal abuse in Asbury Park is about the same as they were when he started, but the issue is finally getting more recognition, he said.

“This is bigger than what a lot of people think,” Donato said. “This is a real problem. If there are people out there who can’t take care of their animals they need to know there are people out there who can help.”

A majority of the animal abuse calls Donato and Hyer receive come from neighbors and family members of pet owners, meter readers from gas and electric companies, and individual police departments, Hyer said.

According to Asbury Park Police Officer Daniel Newman, any suspicious activity should be reported when it comes to possible incidents of animal abuse or cruelty. Newman and his 5-year-old German Shepard, Bishop [shown at right] —named after Asbury Park High School’s Blue Bishops — are members of the Asbury Park Police Department’s K-9 unit.

“If you see something suspicious, don’t try and intervene — observe and report,” Newman said. “If you are thinking, ‘Uh, should I call?’ The answer is ‘yes’.”

Things to look out for and report in terms of general neglect include dogs that are chained to a tree or a fence out of view, or do not have access to food, water or shelter. Dogs left in cars in warm weather should also be reported, according to Hyer.

Something else to look out for and report are possible dog fights in the area.

Hyer showed the audience of about 35 community members a large, 50 pound chain that was found on a dog that weighed about the same. In general, chains that big are used by owners who seek to build their dog’s chest muscles up for fighting, he said.

“The guy thought he was going to make the dog big and strong,” Hyer said.

On the contrary, most dogs that are used for fighting are not the big, bulky pit bulls, but smaller ones, Donato said.

“They are usually real small, low to the ground, and what you and I would think is a low weight,” he said.

It is illegal to host a fight, enter a dog into a fight, and to spectate a fight in New Jersey. All three offenses carry third degree charges. Law enforcement officers also don’t need a search warrant to enter a home where a dog fight is believed to be taking place, according to Hyer. But, it’s not easy for the MCSPCA officers to track down dog fighting rings.

“Dog fighting events don’t last too long,” Donato said. “We’re chasing a ghost, essentially.”

Corporal Kevin Rooney of the Associated Humane Society is the Animal Control Officer for Asbury Park and 10 surrounding towns. While the MCSPCA deals with animal cruelty issues, he responds to calls about injured animals, animals running at large, lost pets and other non-cruelty issues. When he comes across animal cruelty it is largely by accident, he said.

He also oversees the Tinton Falls Humane Society. The Tinton Falls shelter has a mobile clinic where pet owners can get veterinary care and spay and neuter services and micro-chipped, Rooney said. The shelter hopes to open a public clinic at the Tinton Falls branch very soon.

The meeting was spurred by recent issues of dog cruelty, including the abuse and neglect of Heaven, an 8-month old pit bull.

Shrewsbury Animal Hospital employees Madina Fleming, a veterinary technician, and Christine Jeffery, a supervisor and veterinary technician, are charged with the care of the young dog.

“Heaven is recovering really quickly but still has a long road to recovery,” said Jeffery. “She’s an all-around sweet dog.”

The two post daily updates about Heaven’s status on the Shrewbury Animal Hospital Facebook page.

The Wonder Bar will also host a benefit for Heaven on Saturday, Dec. 14. Visit the Wonder Bar Facebook page for more information.

To report an incident of animal abuse, call the MCSPCA Animal Cruelty hotline at 1-800-582-5979.

[Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported Cpl. Kevin Rooney also supervised the Newark and Lacey Township Animal shelters and the Tinton Falls shelter was in the process of building a mobile clinic. Rooney oversees the Tinton Falls shelter, which currently operates a mobile clinic and will soon open a public clinic at the shelter. This version has been updated to reflect that change.]

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