A humane society law enforcement officer says he's never seen so much animal hoarding in such a short timeframe. Watch video
It's not uncommon to see a spike in animal hoarding cases in the summer, as it is breeding season for most animals.
But some law enforcement officials, including those with years of experience in the animal rescue field, say they have never seen so many cases in such a short period of time.
"Nothing at this magnitude," said Sgt. Kevin Rooney, a six-year veteran humane law enforcement officer at the Associated Humane Societies in Tinton Falls.
He said, "Something strange is going on," but could not account for what it might be, acknowledging that the string of cases some of which have come on the same day, could just be a coincidence.
He said though "baby season is happening right now" -- meaning the summertime -- he didn't remember nearly this many cases last year or in any previous year he's been on the force.
"It just seems like this year it has blown up," he said.
In the past month, there have been at least eight animal hoarding cases in New Jersey. Here are some of those cases:
- Dogs in Howell: Rooney was involved in the recovery of more than 270 small dogs from a home in early June.
- Cats in Woodbridge: As recent as last week, more than 50 cats, including 12 dead, were found in an apartment in Iselin.
- Cats in Colts Neck: On the same day as the incident in Iselin, 36 cats were removed from a property.
- Dogs in Keyport: In late June, 17 dogs were rescued from a home that officials described in "deplorable" conditions.
- Dogs in Hopatcong: Officials in late June said they found 47 dogs sitting in feces and urine all around a Hopatcong home.
- Dogs in Jackson: In June, at least 17 dogs were rescued in what officials described as "horrific conditions" from a garage in Jackson.
The large numbers of animals rescued from these homes has strained some of the shelters. In the past month, Heather J. Cammisa, president and CEO of St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, said her organization has taken animals from six different hoarding cases in New Jersey, totaling more than 200 animals at St. Hubert's various facilities.
She also said in her six years at St. Hubert's she has never seen so many hoarding cases in such a short time.
"The number of cases and requests for assistance was higher than we've seen," she said.
In the past month, St. Hubert's has taken in animals from hoarding cases in Hopatcong, Woodbridge, East Orange, and Mount Olive.
To deal with the massive influx of animals, St. Hubert's assembled all available personnel, and reached out to other agencies as well.
"We got on the horn with our volunteers, managers, and said, 'Call in the troops,'" Cammisa said.
She said interagency communication and networking is vital when extreme cases come along.
"We're able to do so much more together," she said, referring to shelters across the state.
Barbara Lovell-Napoli, director of development at the Monmouth County SPCA, which is housing some of the animals recovered in the various hoarding cases, said her facility had "a few crowded nights, especially as an open admissions shelter."
"We will not turn an animal in need away," she said in an email. "Our medical supplies and facilities and staff certainly were and continue to be stretched thin."
Thankfully, she said, the Monmouth County SPCA has close ties with foster families and other organizations that were able to foster some of the animals from Howell, Keyport and Colts Neck that she said her facility "just didn't have room for."
Rooney posed one theory about why there may be a spike. The public may be becoming more aware of animal hoarding, and there may just be more reporting occurring. It is possible that education and awareness of hoarding is working, and more people are picking up the phone, having recognized a situation in the neighborhood, Rooney said.
To donate to the Associated Humane Societies or the Monmouth County SPCA, visit www.ahscares.org and monmouthcountyspca.org, respectively.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.