Monmouth County SPCA New Facility to Offer State-of-the Art Adoption Center, Clinic, Thrift Shop, and Expanded Community Programming

George Marcouiller of BurMarc Construction Group, Bob DeSantis of KGD Architects, MCSPCA Executive Director Ursula Goetz, MCSPCA Board President Chris O’Connor, Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo, Renovation lead gift donor Dr. and Mrs. George Feldman of Deal, and Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Laurie Garrison and Jean Hager (left to right)

Eatontown, NJ – On November 28, over 50 guests, including Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo, Monmouth County Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, MCSPCA Board President Chris O’Connor, Renovation lead gift donor Dr. and Mrs. George Feldman of Deal, MCSPCA board, volunteers, staff, and Campaign donors celebrated the shelter’s groundbreaking on a beautiful autumn day at its existing facility in Eatontown.

A highlight of the ceremony was MCSPCA alumnus Hunter’s official doggie groundbreaking dig, which was met by laughter and applause from onlookers. The groundbreaking was followed by a “Give Thanks for the Animals” luncheon and tours of the existing shelter building.

A team of board members, volunteers and MCPSCA Executive Director, Ursula Goetz, worked with architects Bob De Santis, Tim McCorry and Ann Skorupski of the firm Kaplan Gaunt DeSantis Architects LLC in Red Bank to come up with the perfect combination of form and function for the new $3.5 million dollar design. “Bob, Tim, and Anna listened to our concerns and have created an absolutely beautiful design that will markedly improve the lives of the pets in our care as well as the humans who care for them,” said Ursula Goetz, MCSPCA Executive Director.

Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo and MCSPCA’s Youngest Volunteer Brandon Bowen, son of MCSPCA Vet Tech Deann Bowen

A major goal of the renovation is to eliminate stress and disease for all pets in the shelter’s care and the new cutting-edge building will specifically do just, becoming a national model for shelter design. In 1999, the MCSPCA abandoned the industry-wide practice of using euthanasia as a means of controlling the shelter population. “Since then, tens of thousands of lives have been saved. In order to succeed in our life-saving mission, it is vitally important that their stay is as stress-free as possible,” said Laurie Garrison, MCSPCA Board of Trustee and Renovation Co-Chair.

“If this community agrees that keeping animals for however long it takes to find a home is the right thing to do, then it is our moral responsibility to house them humanely. Unfortunately, the conditions in our aging shelter today fall woefully short of that responsibility,” said Ursula.

With the decision not to euthanize adoptable pets came new challenges to an organization that was already pushed to its limits. The MCSPCA sixty-two year old facility, built to house 40 dogs and 60 cats, today serves as many as 75 dogs and 350 cats every day. Today, every room, every square inch of available space is used as a makeshift home for a homeless dog, cat, even rabbit or guinea pig. The condition of the facility is hard on people as well as animals. A renovation will enable staff to provide improved conditions for the animals in their care and for the people who care for them.

This desperately needed building renovation will enable staff to significantly improve the environment they offer to the animals and volunteers, as well as their ability to provide expanded services to Monmouth County’s animal owners.  To date, over $2 million has been raised for the project, but funds are still needed to meet the $3.5 million dollar renovation cost. 

To make a donation, please send a check to MCSPCA with "for renovation fund" in the memo section to 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724. Or, donate online over their secure server and choose "Building Renovation Fund."

Founded in 1945, the Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA) is a not-for profit 501(c)3 organization supported solely by donations and modest fees and led by a volunteer board of trustees. The MCSPCA not only finds homes for stray dogs and cats, but also those family pets that can no longer be cared for by their owners. Additionally, the shelter assists people with pets who are experiencing economic hardship, and provides emergency temporary shelter for pets whose companions can no longer care for them due to domestic violence and those who are confined to nursing homes. All of the animals (strays and previously owned pets) placed for adoption receive the same excellent care. The MCSPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to animals and bringing those responsible for cruelty to an animal to justice.

MCSPCA Shelter Facts: 4,000 lost, neglected or abused animal rescued and cared for in 2007 alone; 500 pets united with families; more than 2,000 adopted into new homes; 1,000 animal cruelty complaints investigated annually by MCSPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer; Humane Education Program reaches over 6,500 young people; and MCSPCA Vogel Animal Care Center spray/neutered close to 4,000 pets.