By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — A petition with more than 1,100 signatures was submitted to the top brass of Old Bridge, requesting the removal of the township’s animal shelter coordinator.
Mayor Owen Henry, his administration and the Old Bridge Township Council have been asked to remove or transfer Karen Chen, the Old Bridge Animal Shelter’s coordinator, after she allegedly left a cat suffering in pain due to massive dental issues for more than a month.
On Feb. 21, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) announced that it had charged Chen with failure to provide necessary veterinary care and inflicting unnecessary cruelty to a cat named Jupiter as far back as November 2016, according to Matt Stanton, spokesman for the NJSPCA.
Lisa Lent, treasurer of the Old Bridge Animal Shelter Volunteers organization, asked Henry and the Township Council why they did not respond to the petition at a meeting on March 13.
Council President Brian Cahill said the council does not get involved in personnel matters.
“The petition dealt with Karen Chen,” he said. “The councilpeople are not supposed to be involved with personnel issues nor are we supposed to comment on personnel issues as it would be inappropriate.”
Township Attorney Ken Lozier said the matter has been referred to the township’s insurance carrier.
Business Administrator Christopher Marion said because of employment law, township officials do not comment on personnel matters; however, he said they did receive a statement from their special legal counsel for their insurance fund, which he read to the public at the meeting.
“The complaint filed by the NJSPCA against animal coordinator Karen Chen is under review by legal counsel to the insurance fund to the township,” Marion read.
Marion said officials were advised by the counsel that based upon the investigation to date, there is no evidence that Chen’s actions violated the applicable law.
“These investigations are ongoing and dates will be provided to the counsel to the township as the assessment continues,” he said.
Marion said he understands that a petition was submitted and people feel strongly about the situation; however, he said there is a process that needs to be followed and employees as well as volunteers for the township have legal rights.
“The public has an absolute right to submit a petition,” he said. “This council listens to everyone and everything that is submitted to them. There is no one up here that would not take [the petition submitted] into consideration.”
Marion said the administration also listens.
“The problem we have, and I think it’s frustrating to people, is that people have rights and due process,” he said. “There are things we have to do outside [the public’s purview]. The counsel is looking into this as well as outside agencies. Appropriate action will be taken should it be necessary and that’s how we have to operate as a township and as an organization.”
The charges against Chen were a result of an anonymous tip that the NJSPCA received on Dec. 20, 2016, alleging that a cat at the Old Bridge Animal Shelter was in pain due to massive dental issues. That same day, the NJSPCA arrived at the shelter and observed a cat in poor shape.
Shelter records indicated the cat was admitted as a stray on Sept. 26, 2016. When questioned, Chen indicated she was aware of the cat’s dental issues and was going to schedule care “next week”; however, the NJSPCA advised her to take the cat to a veterinarian the very same day to address the matter.
On Dec. 24, 2016, the NJSPCA followed up and found the cat did receive the necessary dental work and was eating fine. The cat appeared to have had nine abscessed teeth. Medical reports confirmed that the cat was treated for those teeth that same day, according to Stanton, and was eating well.
The NJSPCA continued with its investigation and determined that the cat was in pain due to the dental issues as far back as November 2016 and was provided no medical care.
Further review of the cat’s records indicate a note on the medical form dated Dec. 14, 2016, that the cat had “dental disease” but no action was requested.
The NJSPCA said further review of veterinary records of Jupiter, who is still at the animal shelter, is ongoing.
The court copies of the summonses against Chen were delivered to the Old Bridge Municipal Court, along with a request for a change of venue as Chen is a township employee.
A court date has yet to be set for Chen.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].