BY LAYLI WHYTE
Correspondent

Rendering of the redesign and expansion of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals EATONTOWN - - Now that the Borough Council has finally approved the zoning change for the Monmouth County SPCA shelter (MCSPCA), plans for the redesign and expansion of the animal shelter will soon be completed and presented to the Planning Board.

About 20 supporters of the SPCA were in attendance at last week's council meeting to witness the council unanimously approving the zoning change that will allow the SPCA to present its new plan to the Planning Board, rather than the Zoning Board.

"The SPCA is an excellent organization," said Mayor Gerald Tarantolo. "I'm behind you 110 percent."

Previously, according to the Monmouth County SPCA Executive Director Ursula Goetz, whenever the SPCA wished to make any changes to its facility, it had to obtain a "d" variance for a nonpermitted use in the zone in addition to any site plan approvals.

The animal shelter is located on Wall Street in a residential zone, where it is not a permitted use. The zoning change eliminates the need for a use variance when the SPCA submits plans to change the layout of the facility and add an additional 4,000 square feet.

The proposed dog gazebo at the MCSPCA Mark Aikens, attorney representing the SPCA, thanked the council for approving the zoning change ordinance.

"We appreciate the opportunity to work through this process with you," he said.

Aikens said that the MCSPCA has a master plan in mind for the facility, which includes improvement of the aesthetics of the facility, relocation of the on-site thrift shop, a major source of revenue for the facility, and a reduction of noise.

Plans include renovation of the main building and the enclosure of the outdoor animal runs for the purpose of noise reduction.

Goetz said that the old chain-link fences will no longer be used on site, and that gazebos with room for up to four dogs in separate compartments in each, would take the place of the chain-link fence dog runs. The SPCA has been working with an acoustical engineer to help with noise reduction.

Goetz said previously that the improvements come as a result of the growing needs of the community, since Monmouth County does not have an animal shelter.

"This past summer," she said in an interview last April, "the number of cats we had here grew to 400, and we had 100 kittens on the waiting list to come in. We also had 60 cats in foster care with employees. We also had a number of bunnies and gerbils and birds, and between 50 and 60 dogs.

"The community has grown, and we need to move forward with our master plan to accommodate the needs. These aren't our animals. They belong to the community."

In addition to the shelter and the thrift shop, the site currently includes a spay and neuter clinic and a caretaker's home.

According to Goetz, the caretaker's home would be moved to an apartment above the new thrift shop, so that 24-hour onsite supervision can remain in place.

Plans for the new facility also include an expanded humane education program aimed at reducing animal cruelty.

Goetz said that the project is being funded through fundraising efforts, sales from the thrift shop and donations. Donations for the project will be gladly accepted, she added.

She said she would like to see the project under way by next April, and Aikens said that he hopes to get the application in front of the Planning Board as soon as possible.