By Jennifer Ortiz
Staff Writer
HOWELL – A total of 293 dogs, and counting, are continuing to recover following their rescue from a home in Howell earlier this month.
Last week, Joseph and Charlene Hendricks were identified as the residents who were keeping the dogs in their home on Bennett Road. The home was the scene of a massive rescue effort on June 3.
This week, officials said the animals are continuing their recovery from a life that saw them living in a home filled with feces and urine. During the rescue effort, officials said that despite the conditions in the home, the dogs appeared to have been well fed and cared for by the owners.
The initial count of 276 dogs that were removed from the home grew to 280 after Charlene Hendricks called authorities to report that two dogs and two puppies belonging to the couple had shown up at their door after the rescue, according to Ross Licitra, chief of the Monmouth County SPCA Law Enforcement Division.
“Those four were probably hiding outside somewhere. She called and we went and picked them up,” he said.
Since the rescue operation on June 3, 13 puppies have been born to dogs that were pregnant at the time they were pulled from the home. Licitra said between 20 and 25 dogs were pregnant at that time and more puppies, possibly as many as 80, may yet be born.
Including the birth of puppies born post-rescue, the total number of dogs comes to 293.
Licitra said the couple have been very cooperative throughout the process.
“At the end of the day, we are not looking to put these people in jail, but there has to be consequences for what has happened and we need to send a message out to the public that this cannot be tolerated,” he said.
Licitra said a meeting was scheduled to be held at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on June 13 during which representatives of the SPCA, the Howell municipal prosecutor and animal control officer were expected to discuss what charges may be filed against the dogs’ owners.
He said charges of animal cruelty and violations of municipal ordinances are likely to result from the incident. Possible outcomes of the case could include a ban on the couple owning animals or limitations on the number of animals they may own, community service and/or counseling.
“Representatives of the Monmouth County Health Department will be at the meeting. That is important because we want to help the people as much as we want to help the animals,” Licitra said.
“At the end of the day, if people find themselves in situations they can’t handle, they need to call for help before it come to this situation. Just reach out to somebody.
“This is the worst case in Monmouth County history and it probably is the worst in New Jersey history. It is unimaginable, it truly is. It is almost incomprehensible to pack almost 300 dogs into a house,” he said.
Licitra said the rescued dogs are doing well.
“At this point, it is financial donations that are needed because we have the ongoing task of keeping these animals well, the staff that has to be here around the clock to take care of them … every one of these animals has to be spayed and neutered, and we are bringing in veterinarians to do that because it is way too much for our staff to handle. That is the biggest thing, financial donations,” he said.
The rescued dogs were accepted by the Monmouth County SPCA, Eatontown; the Associated Humane Society, Tinton Falls; and St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Madison. Donations may be made to the Monmouth County SPCA, 732-542-0040; the Associated Humane Society, 732-922-0100; or St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, 973-377-2295; or they may be made at www.monmouthcountyspca.org