JACKSON — Westlake Animal Groups (WAGs), a club at the Westlake residential community, recently held its annual Paws for a Cause Walk in support of the volunteer auxiliary of the animal shelter in Jackson .
Club President Susan Addelston said $4,058 was raised through Paws for a Cause. She said 100 people, several dogs and one cat participated in the event. She said the money will go into a medical fund to pay for spay/neuter clinics.
Brian Lippai, manager of the Ocean County animal facilities, including one in Jackson, said the cost to spay a dog or cat can run between $250 and $400, depending upon the size of the animal.
WAGs distributed 1,426 fliers to the homes in Westlake, and the organizers received contributions ranging from $5 to more than $100.
“The checks were turned over to Ray Gaskill, treasurer of the volunteers, who deposited the funds into a medical account for spay/neuter clinics and which also pays for the care of abandoned animals,” Addelston said.
In addition to raising funds for spay/neuter procedures, Addelston said there is a need for pet food at the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility, 615 FreemontAve., just off Hope Chapel Road, Jackson.
“I bring a carload of donations from our Westlake community to them each week and we also bring linens as well as other items,” she said. “I’ve got people here who buy 40- to 60-pound bags of dog food or cat food to donate. They also purchase cartons of cat food and bags of cat litter.”
Addelston said the current economy has made it difficult for some people to afford to take care of a pet, and she said there are not enough people to adopt all the pets that need homes.
The Northern Ocean County Animal Facility operates a pet pantry. Individuals who have a pet but who cannot afford to take care of it can receive food and other items from the pet pantry, when those items are available.
Lippai said the pet pantry was started about 18 months ago to help people who are having trouble caring for their pet. He said Scout troops, schools and adult communities have helped to stock the pet pantry.
He said people are giving up their pets because they can no longer afford to keep them. The pet pantry can sometimes provide enough assistance for an owner to be able to keep his pet, Lippai said.
For more information, call the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility at 732-657- 8086.