Final Howell Hoarding Tally: 276 Dogs. Here's How To Help Them

HOWELL, NJ -- Ross Licitra says they thought it was going to be 20 dogs in a house in Howell. After a rescue operation that lasted more than 10 hours., officials discovered the number was nearly 15 times that amount.

In what he called the largest case of animal hoarding in Monmouth County history and possibly the state, 276 dogs -- including a litter of newborn puppies, and as many as 20 pregnant dogs -- were removed from a Howell Township home on Friday, Licitra, law enforcement chief for the Monmouth County SPCA said Saturday.

Saturday morning, as the SPCA began a second day of dealing with the animals, Licitra said the staff is still in triage mode.

"We have animals in rooms where we normally don't keep animals," he said. "Our whole community room is full."

"At this point we're still in full triage. It's all hands on deck. Everybody who can possibly come to work today is here," Licitra said.

And the dogs -- chihuahuas, Yorkies, pugs and mixed breeds -- are still in a bit of shock as well, he said.

"They're frightened," Licitra said. "You look in their eyes, they tell the whole story: This is all new to them."

And while "the phone calls are ringing off the hook for adoptions," Licitra said what is needed right now, more than anything, is financial support to get all the dogs vaccinated, fed and prepared for adoption.

"They're loaded with fleas," Licitra said, and most of the dogs have never seen a veterinarian. "We're exhausting all of our resources."

"We have a lot of work to do," he said.

The situation at the 1,900-square-foot bi-level home came to light a week or so ago, when an officer from the Associated Humane Societies in Tinton Falls was in the neighborhood responding to a call of a loose dog, Licitra said. The officer heard a bunch of dogs barking in the home, and called the SPCA.

"He suspected there might be 20 dogs in the house, which is a lot of dogs when you think about it," Licitra said. "He called the animal cruelty hotline and said, 'You'll want to check this out, it might be a hoarding situation.' "

Licitra said it took three tries before SPCA officers were able to connect with the homeowners. When they finally found them at home Thursday evening, Licitra said, the couple -- whom Licitra described as middle-aged -- allowed officers into the front portion of the house.

The number of dogs was staggering, he said. They estimated 80 dogs.

" 'We have about 80 dogs,' his officer told him, Licitra said. "I said 'Eight-zero? Like 80?' "

It was a mind-blowing number. But the veteran law enforcement officer -- Licitra spent 25 years with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and five years as a police officer with the West Long Branch and Monmouth University police departments -- said organizing the response was not unlike the drug raids he had organized during his time with the prosecutor's office.

He called Heather Cammisa at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison.

"I've got 80 dogs maybe a little bit more," Licitra said he told her. Cammisa said they would marshal their resources to help.

"They are such an amazing animal welfare organization," Licitra said. "Whatever it is, they're here at a moment's notice."

They went to the home prepared for 80 dogs, he said. Cammisa said St. Hubert's would take 50 of the dogs -- all of which were small breeds. The dogs ranged in age from the newborn puppies born Friday morning to about 4 years old, he said.

"Our medical director told me there are 20 more pregnant dogs about to give birth," Licitra said. "If you figure they average five puppies to a litter, you can do the math." 

When they told the owners they would have to surrender the animals, "they were devastated," he said. But they were cooperative.

And for four hours, the removal went like clockwork, with dogs being evaluated, microchipped and vaccinated on the spot, Licitra said. By 2 p.m. they had handled more than 80 animals, but that's when they realized the number was far, far more.

"We ran out of microchips, we ran through St. Hubert's and Associated Humane Societies' supplies," he said. "I finally said 'We can't vaccinate anymore,' and we just worked to retrieve the dogs."

The crews, dressed in hazmat suits and breathing masks supplied by the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, finally finished retrieving dogs about 8 p.m. The hazmat gear was necessary because while the animals were in relatively decent health, the home reeked of ammonia from the dogs' urine and feces.

"The smell of the ammonia was gagging," he said. "I could only stand there a few minutes," because he wasn't wearing a mask.  

"They're beautiful dogs, and in fairly good condition despite the conditions they were living in," Licitra said. "Ninety-five percent have never seen a vet. They were born and never left that house."

"I watched this show about Chernobyl about how animals adapted to living there after the reactor meltdown," he said. "I suppose this is the same thing, they adapted to living in that stench."

In the end, St. Hubert's took some of the dogs to its facility in Madison; the SPCA took some and some went to the Associated Humane Societies. 

The couple, who will face animal cruelty charges, cooperated fully, Licitra said.

"The owners didn't believe they were doing anything wrong," he said. "They're not cruel people."

"This is what I call a crime of omission," he said, as opposed to one where animals have been physically abused.

The dogs will be available for adoption fairly soon, Licitra said, but right now the best way people can help them is through contributions. Food and blankets are helpful, he said, but the financial burden of taking in so many animals is enormous because the facilities already had animals they were seeking to place in homes. 

"Check our social media," Licitra said. "Once they're ready for adoption we will let everyone know."

Monetary donations to the Monmouth County SPCA can be sent to:

MCSPCA
"Howell Case" 
PO Box 93
Eatontown, NJ 07724

The SPCA also set up a special donations page "so ALL donations will go directly towards this case," the SPCA said. Click here to donate.  

The SPCA is in need of foster homes. "Dogs in our care, especially in cases like this, have a much easier time adjusting to their new surroundings in a home environment rather than in a shelter," the SPCA said. If you are able to foster a dog, please email Fostering@monmouthcountyspca.org

With the influx of dogs taken into the shelter, we are in need of blankets, towels, sheets, small/medium crates, dog toys, Science Diet dog food, and Purina ONE wet puppy food. Donations can be dropped off at either of our shelter locations (260 Wall St, Eatontown OR Freehold Mall Adoption Center).

The SPCA also has an Amazon.com Wish List.

St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center is at 575 Woodland Ave., Madison. Check out their Facebook page here.

The Associated Humane Society is located at 2960 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls. To check on the dogs they took, check out their Facebook page here.

In a post on Facebook Saturday afternoon, the Associated Humane Societies, which operates the shelters in Tinton Falls and Freehold and at Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey, noted the dogs were well fed, but "they were completely neglected otherwise."

"Some have health issues, some had recently had puppies and one dog actually gave birth during the rescue mission. All of the dogs were heavily infested with fleas and are dirty and matted. All will require grooming and some will need to be shaved," the AHS post said. "Our veterinarians have given the initial vaccines and microchips and next, the dogs will groomed, spayed and neutered. We expect to find some medical issues with some of the dogs but hopefully nothing too serious. After all of that is done, the real work begins."

"These adorable and sweet little dogs have led a lifetime of isolation and have lived in filth and squalor. Once everything settles down for them, we will begin to assess their personalities and work on getting them to overcome their fears. This will take a few weeks so they will not be available for adoption immediately though we are hoping to have them ready for good homes in about a month," the AHS post said.

They posted video of some of the dogs Saturday:

The Associated Humane Societies said they, too, are accepting donations to help the dogs. You can text HumaneHelp to 41444 or click here to donate to the Res-Q Fund.

"We will provide updates over the next few days," the SPCA said on its Facebook page.

Donation drop-offs are accepted seven days a week from 9-5 at the SPCA's Eatontown location at 260 Wall St., as well as at St. Hubert's and the Associated Humane Society.

The SPCA said on Facebook Saturday afternoon that it is not certain when the dogs will be ready for adoption.

"The dogs we currently have need to be medically cleared, spayed/neutered, and assessed behaviorally before they will be ready to meet potential adopters. With the amount of dogs we currently have, it may take 1-2 weeks before the dogs are available," the SPCA said.

"PLEASE REMEMBER we have PLENTY of dogs and cats waiting patiently at our shelter already for their homes!" the SPCA said.

"Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported us including St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Associated Humane Tinton Falls, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Howell Township Police 911 Communications, Howell Township Police EMS Division, Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Monmouth County Police, Fire & EMS, MONOC - New Jersey's Hospital Service Corporation and the several other organizations who were there to help!" the SPCA said.

(Photos via Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Facebook page)