Monmouth SPCA takes part in $100K Challenge

Originally published Aug. 4, 2011
Eatontown — The staff at the Monmouth County SPCA are participating in the ASPCA $100K Challenge, and have challenged themselves to reach a goal of 5,000 lives saved in 2011. To help accomplish both goals, they are holding a series of special activities over the coming weeks. 
The MCSPCA is one of 50 organizations across the country participating in the ASPCA $100,000 Challenge. The organization that saves the most lives over a three-month period will earn a $100,000 grant from the ASPCA.
“The MCSPCA entered this challenge not for the ‘prize’ of $100,000, not for the ‘glory’ of winning, but to challenge ourselves to break all records in the number of animals we save, and our goal is to save an astounding 5,000 lives this year,” said Laurie Garrison, MCSPCA Executive Director.
State Senator Jennifer Beck says that as a dog owner herself, she supports the MCSPCA in taking part in this challenge.
“The Monmouth SPCA has an amazing goal to save over 5,000 lost, neglected or abused animals this year,” Beck said. “Relying solely on the generosity of donors, the MCSPCA receives no state or federal financial assistance.”
Starting August 1, the MCSPCA began “ready.set.ADOPT! A Challenge to Save More Lives.” During the next three months the MCSPCA will hold some creative and community-orientated promotions to help adopt out a record amount of animals.
For example, all adult animals (4 months and over) will be Donation Only. This will provide all potential adopters the option to make a donation of their choice for their new best friend.
On Friday, August 5, the staff and animals at the MCSPCA are going to be staying up late to celebrate Midnight Madness. The Homeward Bound Adoption Center will be open from noon until midnight to be of assistance for the night owls of Monmouth County to come in and find their perfect match. There will be bedtime stories from 8-9 p.m. with Small Factory Productions.

Any adopter who shows up in their PJs after 9 p.m. will receive a Very Important Pet Swag Bag and a Commemorative Adoption Certificate.

During the three month contest period, the Monmouth County SPCA will also be reaching out to different groups in the Monmouth County area with special RSVP Seniors for Seniors Wednesdays. This promotion will allow for interested senior adopters to come in for some personal one-on-one attention in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

If you are 65 years or older and would like to learn more about Seniors for Seniors Wednesdays please call the Homeward Bound Adoption Center at 732-440-1525 or email them at adoptions@monmouthcountyspca.org

Each week starting August 8, the MCSPCA will be spotlighting a town or group of towns in Monmouth County to focus on their Community Pets Program. By partnering with in-town information distribution systems, residents of these Monmouth County towns will have the opportunity to receive special incentives during their towns’ adoption week.

The community pets are the animals that have been surrendered through no fault of their own and are looking for a chance to return to the sidewalks, parks and sofas they remember before they became residents at the MCSPCA.
There is also a chance to adopt puppies. The Monmouth County SPCA was asked to help overcrowded shelters from the south and other surrounding areas.

For three months the MCSPCA will be temporarily converting their Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Community Room into the Anne & Sheldon Vogel Puppy Rescue Center. Each week, 25 puppies will be transported up to the Monmouth County SPCA where they will be examined by their medical team. They will be spayed and neutered with the help of Red Bank Veterinary Hospital volunteer veterinarians in the evening and available for adoption as soon as possible.

If all of the puppies haven’t been adopted in one week, the MCSPCA has partnered with Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center and Wag On Inn Rescue to have the remaining puppies transferred to the partnering organizations for adoption.

Although the $100,000 prize is important, organizers say that a major part is topping their records set for pets given homes. However, winning the ASPCA $100K Challenge would be exciting for the non-profit organization since they rely on private donations and modest fees to care for the community’s animals.

“As a dog owner myself, I know how life changing the friendship of an animal companion can be,” Beck said. “There are so many beautiful and loving animals here and more coming every day. I really hope residents of the Monmouth county area will make their way out to the MCSPCA and open their hearts and homes to a new best friend.”

The Monmouth County SPCA Homeward Bound Adoption Center, located at 260 Wall Street, will also be changing their hours of operation during the months of August, September and October (Mon.-Thu. 1-5 p.m., Fri., 1-8 p.m. and Sat and Sun 12-6 p.m.).

For a complete list of events and promotions check out the MCSPCA website www.monmouthcountyspca.org or call 732-542-0040 to learn more.