Twenty cats, including two kittens, were found in a Neptune home Nov. 1.
Following an anonymous tip on Wed., Nov. 1 Monmouth County SPCA Humane Law Enforcement found 20 cats, including two kittens, living in an apartment in Neptune.
The apartment had two adults, and two children, ages six and three also living there. According to the anonymous caller, the children were frequently sent home from school due to poor hygiene, prompting MCSPCA officials to put in a referral to the Division of Child Protection.
When the MCSPCA Animal Control and Humane Law Enforcement arrived they found the animals and family living in a bug-infested apartment. While wearing full PPE, and after several hours of recovering the cats and kittens, the animals were transferred to the shelter where they all received medical evaluations. Many of the cats were found to have had upper respiratory infections, eye ulcers, some with dental disease and were all very scared upon intake, but generally in fair health.
Ross Licitra, Monmouth County SPCA Executive Director said, “This is one of those sad situations where a family in our community really needed help – they were struggling, so we stepped in. We took in 20 cats and kittens from their home who now will receive the love and medical care they so desperately need. The Monmouth County SPCA was the first organization to assist this family, which will now trickle down to other entities to help the children and adults in the home.”