How You Can Help The Howell Hoarded Dogs

Any time an animal cruelty or hoarding situation makes the headlines, the immediate and overwhelming response is from folks seeking to adopt.

Such has been the case with the Howell hoarding situation, where 276 dogs were removed from a Howell home on Friday. 
Ross Licitra, law enforcement chief of the Monmouth County SPCA, said the phone at the SPCA's office in Eatontown had been ringing incessantly since Friday with people wanting to take in one of the dozens of dogs retrieved from the home. Dogs also were taken by the Associated Humane Societies and by St. Hubert's Animal Welfare of Madison.

But preparing any animal for adoption -- particularly those that have been rescued from such a situation -- takes time. 
Officials at the Associated Humane Societies, which operate the shelter in Tinton Falls, a facility in Freehold and Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey, estimate it will be about a month before the dogs will be ready for adoption, as many are infested with fleas and have to be spayed or neutered. Twenty of the dogs are pregnant and close to giving birth, Licitra said. Others have health issues, officials said.

And all of them have to be evaluated for temperament, to ensure they are matched with the right people when they are adopted.

So what can you do to put that desire to help into action right now?

1. You can make a donation to the shelters. All three are accepting donations to help defray the costs of  taking in the dogs, which are straining budgets that are typically stressed to begin with. 
The Monmouth County SPCA set up a special donations page for the Howell case. Click here to donate.  
The Associated Humane Societies has a Res-Q Fund for those seeking to help rescued animals. You can text HumaneHelp to 41444 or click here to donate to the Res-Q Fund.
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center has a special page set up as well. You can click here to donate to them.

2. Foster some of the dogs. The SPCA in particular is looking for foster homes to help the dogs transition and become ready to be adopted. "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

3. Adopt! All three agencies have animals that are waiting for homes that have been in their care before the hoarding case. If the faces of those dogs got your attention, go check out the other dogs who are waiting for their forever homes. 

4. Spay or neuter your pets. If you have an animal that you are not planning to breed, have it spayed or neutered to prevent accidental reproduction and prevent unwanted kittens or puppies from being brought into the world.

You can follow the progress of the dogs at the shelters' Facebook pages:

Monmouth County SPCA
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center 
Associated Humane Societies