MANALAPAN — Municipal officials responded publicly this week to an ongoing situation at the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter, which is the facility in neighboring Middlesex County where dogs and cats that are found roaming free in Manalapan are brought.
The shelter has been the focus of animal rights activists who have reported what they said are unsafe conditions at the facility for several months.
The situation came to a head last week when health officials quarantined the Helmetta building and said no animals could be taken in or released. Investigations into the operation of the animal shelter are continuing.
Helmetta is a small municipality that borders Jamesburg. The borough opened the shelter in 2011 and entered into contracts with several municipalities in the region to care for stray animals.
Manalapan health officer David Richardson said Manalapan was one of the first towns to enter into an agreement with Helmetta upon the opening of the facility three years ago. Prior to that, Manalapan brought stray animals to the SPCA in Eatontown.
Richardson issued the following statement on behalf of township officials in response to a request for comment from the News Transcript: “Manalapan officials have been concerned about news reports from Helmetta and its regional animal shelter since the summer.
“These concerns have increased in the past several weeks, causing the township to look at other facilities to house its stray domestic animals. Discussions have been ongoing with potential new shelter partners to find the best short- and long-term solution for the animals that are picked up by the Western Monmouth Animal Control [which serves Manalapan].
“As of Nov. 12, no more animals have been brought to the Helmetta facility, and arrangements have been made with the Monmouth County SPCA shelter in Eatontown to receive our animals on this emergent basis,” he said.
“The Township Committee has been very aware of the situation and has relied on this office to guide the decisions of the continued use of the [Helmetta] facility as well as to research the other options available to the town,” the health officer said.
Members of the Township Committee have not addressed the situation concerning the Helmetta animal shelter at a public meeting.
Contact Mark Rosman at [email protected].