Find a new friend at an animal shelter
Your Turn
Guest Column • Gerry P. Little

Each year, Ocean County's two animal shelters serve as home to thousands of abandoned, injured and surrendered animals. In most cases, the animal is truly a victim of circumstance. Someone is moving, someone is allergic or maybe someone didn't fully realize the great responsibility that comes with taking care of a pet.

hatever the reason, our animal shelters are ready to provide the best possible care for these once and future pets. But we don't do it alone. Our animal facilities are staffed by dedicated professionals and volunteers who not only care for nearly 6,500 animals each year, but also work with the community to ensure that our four-legged friends find a good home.

Our Ocean County Health Department operates two animal shelters, one in Jackson and one in Stafford Township. I want to thank Dr. Ella Boyd, Ocean County's public health coordinator, and Dan Regeneye, our assistant public health coordinator, for all their hard work with our shelters. I must also recognize Brian Lippai, who oversees both of our facilities.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the new shelter that opened last month in Stafford. The state-of-the-art facility replaces an earlier shelter. I was especially touched by the devotion of the volunteer staff. Dorothy Reynolds, a Barnegat Light councilwoman, has been an animal advocate for decades and has worked with the county since before the first shelter was built in 1992.

Sue Shannon of Jackson is equally dedicated to the northern shelter, located in her hometown. Reynolds and Shannon are among more than 130 devoted volunteers who care for the animals at both shelters as if they were their own. They are here daily, walking the dogs, and cleaning the cages. Their love and compassion is one reason that more than 1,800 animals are adopted from the shelters each year.

I also want to thank the Walters Group and our partners in Stafford Township. Because of the construction of new facilities and county buildings, the old animal shelter had to be relocated. This new, larger facility was built at no cost to taxpayers, at a savings of about $1.5 million.

I encourage our residents to stop by our new shelter, or the recently upgraded shelter in Jackson. Our staff and volunteers take the time to work with you and your family to find that perfect pet. All of our animals

are spayed or neutered and are fully immunized. So stop by an animal shelter soon. You just may leave with a new best friend.

The Northern Ocean Animal Facility is at 615 Freemont Ave. in Jackson and the Southern Facility is at 360 Haywood Road in Manahawkin. Both facilities are open to the public daily (except holidays) from 1-4 p.m. and Wednesday from 1-6:30 p.m.

Free rabies vaccinations are also available to the public for dogs and cats at either facility. For an appointment or more information, please call the Northern Ocean Animal Facility at 732-657-8086 or the Southern Facility at 609-978-0127.

More information on the animal shelters is also available on the Ocean County Health Department Internet Web site at www.ochd.org.

Gerry P. Little is a member of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders.