Monmouth SPCA Helps 70 Dogs Avoid Euthanasia

TINTON FALLS, NJ — More than 70 dogs rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico went to the Monmouth County SPCA on Wednesday morning, which agreed to be a drop-off location for the Sato Project, the SPCA announced.

The Sato Project is a 501(c)(3) rescue that focuses on the thousands of stray dogs in Puerto Rico. It teamed up with the Humane Society of the United States and Wings of Hope to fly a total of dogs to the U.S. on two planes and those dogs will be dispersed to shelters along the East Coast to be placed up for adoption.

SPCA officials said the dogs, if not rescued, would ultimately face euthanasia as more than 90 percent of the animals that enter the shelter system in Puerto Rico do not make it back out.

“We’re happy to be a landing point for the rescued dogs from Puerto Rico and the Sato Project,” said Ross Licitra, chief of police and executive director of the Monmouth County SPCA.

“We’ve always had great success in adopting out Sato dogs and have received nothing but support from our surrounding communities when participating in these types of efforts," Licitra said. "We believe all animals deserve a second chance and we’re proud to support animal rescue in all capacities.”

Animal Rescue Fund of East Hampton, Animal Haven of New York City and The Sato Project joined the SPCA at the Eatontown location to divide the dogs among the MCSPCA and the other three rescue organizations, Monmouth County SPCA officials said.

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders along with the Monmouth County Highway Department donated floodlights to assist in the drop-off, and the SPCA said Wegmans of Ocean donated $150 worth of food for the staff and volunteers participating in the drop-off.

The dogs will undergo medical and behavioral assessment and be placed up for adoption within the next few weeks. For more information on how to adopt, please email adoptions@monmouthcountyspca.org or call 732-542-5962.

Photo provided by the Monmouth County SPCA