New Jersey State S.P.C.A.

HUMANE POLICE

1119 LIVINGSTON AVENUE NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901

1.800.582.5979

Col. Frank J. Rizzo Captain Richard Yocum Superintendent President

November 19, 2014 Nancy Martin, Mayor Helmetta Council Members Borough of Helmetta 51 Main Street. Helmetta, New Jersey 08828 RE: NJSPCA RECEIVERSHIP Dear Mayor Martin & Council Members, The purpose of this communication is to inform you that it is the current intent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) to seek receivership of the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter (HRAS) from the Borough of Helmetta. This can be avoided if there is a voluntary relinquishment of the management and operations of the shelter to the NJSPCA. In the hope of avoiding the expense of Judicial intervention, the NJSPCA is affording the Borough forty eight (48) hours to advise the NJSPCA of its decision on delegating the management and operations of the shelter until such time that the conditions giving rise to the receivership have been addressed and corrected. Should the Borough of Helmetta decide to voluntarily grant receivership of the shelter to the NJSPCA, we do not expect the receivership to extend beyond one hundred twenty (120) days. During this period the borough will be responsible for all costs of management and operations and fees of the NJSPCA as well as outside vendors, if the borough rejects this good faith overture, the NJSPCA will seek legal action in Middlesex County Superior Court at the earliest possible time for court ordered receivership. Stated simply, the events of the last several months regarding the operation of the HRAS are of grave concern. On September 12th, 2014 the NJSPCA Police delivered to HRAS a list of six (6) warnings for corrective action for the continued safe operation of the facility. Our guidelines allow us the discretion to assist facilities in maintaining safe operation and also suggest corrective measures.

Nancy Martin, Mayor Helmetta Council Members Borough of Helmetta RE: NJSPCA RECEIVERSHIP PAGE 2 To be very clear, HRAS has been and continues to be treated like all other facilities of its type. Frankly, we gave HRAS and the Borough of Helmetta two (2) months to address the deficient conditions at the shelter. Upon our return inspection of November 13th, 2014, much to our dismay, none of the recommendations for corrective action were followed. In fact many of the conditions worsened. On November 13th, 2014 the Middlesex County Health Department took the extraordinary step of quarantining the HRAS and collectively we have been monitoring conditions. Simple matters such as who has access to the facility, the lack of cleaning of cages, basic feeding, the co-mingling of sick and healthy animals, insufficient veterinary care, the lack of disease control protocols, the majority of the animals thin or emaciated, the need for emergency vet care of some severely sick animals, are all of a very disturbing nature and require immediate action. Additionally, the interim shelter Director that has been selected has no training or experience in shelter operations and that will surely lead to yet another misstep by the borough. As it relates to the management and operation of the HRAS, the community has lost complete confidence in the current HRAS management as well as the municipal leaders in the Borough of Helmetta, again, as it pertains to the shelter. We also wish to point out that based on our most recent inspection there is the real potential for numerous animal cruelty charges forthcoming and some of the charges may be against people still involved with the shelter operations. Providing the NJSPCA receivership status will allow for an experienced and impartial group to help you solve your shelter issues. Providing receivership status will also provide you, as leaders of the Borough of Helmetta, time to decide the future ownership and operation of HRAS. Finally, we must address the volatile political atmosphere that surrounds HRAS. This is a huge distraction from what should be everyone's main concern, the animals. NJSPCA receivership would allow for a professional management approach without the political overtones and interference that currently exist. You, the elected officials of the Borough of Helmetta, need to do the right thing and step away from this shelter temporarily so that major changes in operations can take place under the direction of the NJSPCA. The community has very obviously lost faith in HRAS and Helmetta's ability to safely and properly manage this facility. This much needed facility can and will become a model regional shelter of which Helmetta can be proud. However, this situation must change now.

Nancy Martin, Mayor Helmetta Council Members Borough of Helmetta RE: NJSPCA RECEIVERSHIP PAGE 3 The NJSPCA has the knowledge and resource base to rehabilitate this facility and finally make it into the much needed regional care facility it can be. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support. Very Truly Yours, Captain Richard Yocum Colonel Frank Rizzo President Chief & Superintendent