A rendering of the entrance to the MCSPCA Homeward Bound Adoption Center, which will open in a space formerly occupied by a pet store at the Freehold Raceway Mall. EATONTOWN — The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA) will open a puppy rescue center at the Freehold Raceway Mall, taking advantage of a ban on the sale of live animals at the mall.

A satellite location of the MCSPCA’s Homeward BoundAdoption Center in Eatontown will take over the space formerly occupied by a pet store, which closed after Macerich, the mall management company, signed a pledge to ban the sale of live animals at its mall properties nationwide.

“The Freehold Mall adoption center serves two critical objectives for the organization,” explained Jerry Rosenthal, MCSPCA interim executive director, in a press release on Feb. 12.

“First, it provides a location in Western Monmouth County to better serve the needs of all the residents of the community. Second, it offers the Monmouth County SPCAthe opportunity to continue to spread our message of adoption and responsible pet ownership.”

A view of the interior of the MCSPCA Homeward Bound Adoption center, which is scheduled to open in the spring. The center will include a consultation area, a meet-and-greet area and a pet supply retail area. Lisa Mulhearn, a spokeswoman for the Eatontown-based MCSPCA, explained that the dogs and cats sold in pet stores usually come from puppy mills or catteries.

At the adoption center, the animals will come from overcrowded shelters, rescues and organizations in the south and Puerto Rico as well as other areas around New Jersey, Mulhearn said in an email on Feb. 16.

“We will be working to save the lives that have already been created and taking a portion of each adoption fee to send back to the sending organization for spay/neuter programs within their communities to help stop unwanted litters,” Mulhearn said.

According to the MCSPCA, the shelter began puppy rescue operations at the Eatontown location over the past summer during participation in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ $100K Challenge, a national competition to save lives.

The program was so successful that MCSPCA plans to continue efforts at both locations in an effort to save twice as many lives, the release said.

Along with puppy adoptions, the MCSPCA will also have kittens for adoption at the mall location.

Last year the Homeward Bound Adoption Center saw the feline shelter population hit record highs not once but twice. It is expected that with the warm winter this year, kitten season will be arriving early and often.

“We have future plans to have adult dogs come for outreach/special adoption days,” Mulhearn said.

She explained that the mall location would follow the same screening procedures and protocols for adoptions.

All potential adopters will fill out the Meet Your Match Survey, she said, adding that once the survey is filled out, the adoption process is started with a counselor to learn more about the adopter family, lifestyle, other animals in the home, etc.

“Adding a new member to the family is a family decision, and all members of the family need to be in agreement on the decision. From there, a match can be made,” Mulhearn said.

The adoption fee, which will remain the same as at the Eatontown center, includes micro-chipping and registration, spaying/neutering, rabies and distemper shot, combination testing for cats, heartworm testing for dogs, ear cleaning, nail clipping, worming and flea treatment if the pet is old enough.

“Animals that are bought at a pet store do not receive the same level of care and are not spayed or neutered before they go home with a new family,” Mulhearn said.

The mall location will also serve as a venue to educate the public on puppy mills, spaying and neutering, and even Trap, Neuter and Release programs.

In addition, the location will provide a full line of dog, cat, puppy and kitten supplies as well as other trinkets and goodies.

According to Mulhearn, work is under way on the mall location to meet the township’s requirements.

“We will be removing all of the old cages that the puppies resided in, as well as replacing the walls in the meet-and- greet rooms, floors and updating all of the other fixtures, and making sure the mall location will have the same appearance as the adoption center in Eatontown,” Mulhearn said.

The model for the store, as well the campaign to raise funds to cover the initial startup expenses, was unveiled at the organization’s annual Valentine’s Brunch fundraiser held on Feb. 12, she said.

“The response from the room was just electric,” Mulhearn said. “We immediately had supporters that stepped up to secure a paw print that will be on display around the mall adoption center with their name/message for $500 each. To date, we have sold 15 and are taking requests online through our website.”

The MCSPCA is planning a spring 2012 grand opening of the Homeward Bound Adoption Center and Woofs ’n Whiskers Boutique at the Freehold Raceway Mall.

According to the website, the MCSPCA celebrated a record-setting year in 2011, saving a total of 4,082 lives, 499 more than 2010. The Vogel Spay/Neuter Clinic performed 5,838 surgeries, 452 more than in 2010, and the Puppy Rescue Center was established, saving the lives of more than 300 puppies.

Asearch is currently under way for a successor to former executive director Laurie Garrison, who did not renew her contract.

To donate or learn more about the MCSPCA, visit www.monmouthcountyspca.org or visit the shelter at 260 Wall St., Eatontown, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.