MANALAPAN — The Manalapan Board of Health has reacted to increasing issues with animals in the community by hiring a full-time animal control officer.
The board took the action on Dec. 2, according to health officer Dave Richardson. He said Sharon Gaboff has been hired for the full-time position of animal control officer.
“Sharon has been part of the animal control program since her original hiring as a part-timer in 2005. Sharon is expected to bring leadership, cohesiveness and continuity to the program,” Richardson said.
“For several years we have relied on a cohort of part-timers, but as animal issues in the community become more complex, the program, and especially the communities [that are served by] Western Monmouth Animal Control, will be best served by someone certified in animal control as its manager,” he said.
According to Manalapan’s municipal website, Western Monmouth Animal Control is a regional animal control service administered by the Health Department that responds to domestic animal complaints and problems.
Talk about stray domestic animals in Manalapan and other local municipalities heated up in recent weeks as a situation at the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter in Mid- dlesex County unfolded.
Manalapan is one of the towns that had a contract with the shelter to accept stray domestic animals. The shelter has been the focus of animal rights supporters who reported what they said were unsafe conditions at the facility and sought action to end the alleged animal abuse.
The shelter was eventually quarantined and subsequently placed in receivership with the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The society is addressing the issues that have plagued the facility.
Prior to entering into the contract with Helmetta three years ago, stray domestic animals in Manalapan were brought to the SPCA in Eatontown, Richardson said.
As of Nov. 12, Manalapan stopped bringing animals to Helmetta, and arrangements were made with the Monmouth County SPCA shelter in Eatontown to receive animals.
“The problems that Helmetta has posed in the past few months have brought a new focus to how the program needs to run. I am confident [the hiring of a full-time animal control officer] will be a real benefit to our communities,” Richardson said.
At the Dec. 3 meeting of the Township Committee, Committeewoman Susan Cohen said Manalapan will not be renewing its contract with the Helmetta shelter.