TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Animal Shelter is set to undergo significant changes, transitioning management to the County Board of Health after years of problems and complaints by residents over the shelter’s operations.
After years of issues under township management, Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick says the county takeover will not only save taxpayers up to $1 million annually but will also see the facility upgraded using donated funds.
This change aims to improve conditions for both the animals and taxpayers. Rodrick said the shelter is temporarily closed during the transfer period while renovations are being made. He noted several past incidents that drew media attention and controversies at the shelter since its opening.
The mayor said the dogs in the shelter are stuck in 4-foot square box kennels surrounded with plexiglass and that the dogs in the shelter are treated more like prisoners than loving pets in need of a good home. The transition to the county will include several upgrades for the dogs, such as ventilated kennels and cages, and outdoor runs for the dogs.
Currently, according to Ocean County Health Department officials, the facility falls below the health standards required, necessitating its temporary closure for construction and upgrades. Among the necessary improvements are the installation of dog runs and better ventilation in glass cages. The new setup will allow dogs more frequent exercise times and improve safety for the staff, particularly with aggressive dogs.
“The fact is that the facility does not meet the Board of Health’s standards and must be shut temporarily for construction upgrades. The glass cages are poorly ventilated, and currently, dogs only get 30 minutes a day out of their cage for exercise,” Rodrick said. “That is because the facility doesn’t have dog runs. Dog runs are back doors with pathways to the outside. Once the facility has dog runs, Kennel Aids will be able to actuate the doors to let animals out without entering the cage. This will increase the frequency that dogs will be let out, ensuring that the animals get proper exercise.”
The recent approval of a lease agreement between the Board of Health and the Toms River Council marks the official preparation for the takeover. Despite some opposition from petitioners against the lease, the transition remains supported by key figures, including State Assemblyman Brian Rumph and Senator Singer of the Board of Health.
“The Board of Health and the Toms River Council approved a lease agreement, so we are all set to go. The petitioners opposed that lease, but the agreement doesn’t have to be in the form of a lease,” the mayor added. “Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the legitimacy of the petition at this time. I have been in regular communication with the Board of Health Administrator, State Assemblyman Brian Rumph, and BOH member Senator Singer. The Board of Health still wants to move forward with the takeover.”
All of the animals that were at the shelter have been moved to local rescues and the county shelter during the transition.
Rodrick dismissed claims from a small group of opponents that have been coming to meetings and causing disruptions.
“These people care about politics. They don’t care about the animals. If they cared that much about the animals, they would have been volunteers at the shelter; they would help us hold the staff accountable, they would support the shelter going into a more capable organization,” he said. “Even after we extended hours of adoptions and called for an open door policy, people were being met with locked doors and restrictions. We’re still getting complaints from residents being greeted by locked doors and being told they have to come back during certain hours for adoptions.”
Rodrick shared several videos of residents, during business hours, being denied access to the shelter because the door was locked. Those videos have been confirmed.
Here’s what else is happening in Toms River…
- An interview with Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick
- Film Crews Spotted in Lacey and Toms River, What Movie is it?
- Toms River launches Lego robotics camps for kids this summer
- Toms River Easter Egg Hunt This Saturday
- Senior dog waits for rescue in Jackson after owner passes
Now, the mayor said, it’s time to move forward and he’s not going to let a bunch of people who are friends with the former mayor to use the shelter as a political weapon against him.
“We’re doing what is right,” Rodrick said. “Karen Wall, from Patch wrote an article two years ago that explains exactly what is happening at the shelter when those doors are locked.”
In an article on Patch, Wall wrote about recent criticism and problems at the shelter.
“Operations of the Toms River Township animal shelter are under investigation after township officials received a number of complaints about how shelter personnel were handling animals and the public. Complaints that had been brewing for months were brought to the Toms River Township Council last week,” wall wrote. “ Among the concerns were the designation of dogs as aggressive and potentially unadoptable, which some of the animal advocates alleged was based in part on perceptions based on the dogs’ breeds.”
Rodrick said while he was a member of the council he received repeated calls and complaints from residents complaining about how the shelter was being run, but he was powerless, always at the short end of a 5-2 vote on the town council that was aligned fiercely with the former mayor.
“Now, I am the mayor and we’re going to fix what has been ignored for many years,” he added. “The Patch article itself should be enough evidence, but there’s much more going on that wasn’t reported in that article.”
“But other complaints involved the response of shelter workers to phone calls from the public, including to people calling seeking help with stray cats. Maria Cymanski, who serves as the animal control officer in five towns, including Barnegat and Waretown, and works with the Associated Humane Society at Popcorn Park in Lacey Township, said they have been receiving an abundance of calls from Toms River residents who have been turned away by staff at the Toms River shelter,” Wall wrote. “The upcoming improvements include veterinary care, a service previously unavailable at the shelter. This enhancement is part of a broader strategy to address the facility’s shortcomings, including its history of limited public access and cleanliness issues.”
When he took office, Rodrick said the shelter was at maximum capacity and he was appalled at what he found during a surprise visit shortly after taking office.
“When we took over, the shelter was at full capacity; it was filthy, and only open to the public by appointment. We mandated that it be open to the public, cut the fees, and got all of those animals into homes,” the mayor said. “However, it’s been an ongoing struggle to get the employees to stop locking the doors. We continue to get complaints, and there is video footage on Facebook of repeated attempts by residents trying to get in when the doors are locked during business hours. If everyone puts politics aside, they must admit that we are doing what is best for the animals. Both prior Mayors wanted to do this, but they didn’t have the guts to take on the unions or the uninformed activists. The Asbury Park Press and Patch covered the terrible conditions in 2022, but they seem to have forgotten about that.”
In the 2022 Asbury Park Press article animal advocates complained about mold issues in the animal runs and ceilings and that they were concerned about the shelter euthanizing dogs based simply on their breed.
Others complained that the Toms River shelter was sending adoptable animals to the county to be euthanized in order to artificially lower the shelter’s euthanization rates.