Two Dogs Rescued After Being Abandoned At Allentown Wildlife Area

EATONTOWN, NJ — Two pit bulls, including one who recently gave birth, are safe at the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown, after they were left in the woods of the 6,300-acre Assunpink Wildlife Management Area in Allentown.

The grey pit bulls - one male and one female - were found Monday morning in the woods by an officer of the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, SPCA officials said.

The dogs had leashes tied on their necks being used as collars, and were near empty bowls.

The Monmouth County SPCA Humane Law Enforcement Division is investigating the abandonment, and is seeking the public's help with any information about the matter.

The SPCA also emphasized that it provides a way to safely surrender a pet if necessary.

When help arrived, the dogs were more than happy to see people and had no problem jumping right into the transport vehicle, the SPCA said. In fact, the SPCA took a picture (below) of one of the dogs who fell asleep in the transport.

With assistance from the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and the New Jersey State Police, the dogs were recovered and taken to the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown for medical assessment.

Aside from being underweight and having insect and tick bites, both dogs were in fair health and are very friendly with people, officials said.

There is a male dog approximately one to two years old and a female dog approximately four to five years old. The female appears to have had a few litters of puppies, one possibly recent, SPCA officials said.

Ross Licitra, executive director of the SPCA and also a Monmouth County Commissioner, said how disturbing abandonment cases are:

“We always find it so defeating when animals are abandoned. The MCSPCA offers resources to prevent just that. We have helped countless families either keep their pets, or have worked with them to safely surrender their pets into our care," he said.

The SPCA is now looking for any information regarding the abandonment of these dogs. Officials said Wednesday there have been "some leads" in the matter but welcome more information.

If you have information about their owner, or where the dogs may have come from, call the Humane Law Enforcement Division at 732-440-1539 or email info@monmouthcountyspca.org. Tips can remain anonymous.

"There is no need to put any animal in danger by abandoning them, and we want the public to know that the Monmouth County SPCA is always here to help,” Licitra said.