It’s been over 3 years since three dozen volunteers wrote to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seeking the approval to start up local county SPCA chapters in their communities to combat animal cruelty.

The NJSPCA — a quasi-public entity charged with preventing animal cruelty in the state– is affirmatively required by statute to assist individuals to form local SPCA chapters in counties where they do not exist.

However, the NJSPCA has not even reviewed the county chapter applications submitted for Camden, Ocean and Mercer Counties back in December 2008 and February 2009.

Camden, Ocean and Mercer counties have been without a county SPCA chapter for many years, and the NJSPCA does not have the staff to handle cruelty calls and investigations in Camden, Ocean or Mercer counties, or most of the state below Route 195.

There are interested people willing and able to help, why not let them get to work?

Animal cruelty is a serious problem.  Every minute that the NJSPCA delays, more animals are at risk.

The NJSPCA should immediately approve the charter applications and let these volunteers join the effort to prevent animal cruelty.

Preventing animal cruelty is a significant public interest.  To be part of the solution, the NJSPCA needs to stop turning away volunteers!

For information about the volunteers’ lawsuit against the NJSPCA, see nj.com / Trenton Times article.  Mercer County anti-animal cruelty activists sue the NJSPCA over delayed county charters.” http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2012/11/mercer_county_anti-animal_crue.html