Monmouth Millionaire Gives SPCA $100K, Despite Licitra Bullying Claims

EATONTOWN, NJ — The same week two employees came forward to accuse Monmouth County SPCA Director Ross Licitra of bullying them — Licitra called one employee "stupid" and is accused of implying he wanted to "cut (another's) throat" — Monmouth County multi-millionaire Sheldon Vogel announced a $100,000 donation to the animal shelter.

Vogel, 92 and a Colts Neck resident, is the former chief financial officer for Atlantic Records. He and his late wife have donated tens of millions in Monmouth County, including a recent $10-million gift to Monmouth Medical Center, and the Vogel at the Count Basie theater in Red Bank is named after them.

SPCA President Andrew Grossman announced the donation Friday, in this Facebook post, which the SPCA limited who can comment on. (All their other Facebook posts are open to public comment.)

The donation is seen as a sign that big-money donors will continue to back Licitra, despite his treatment of shelter employees. (Licitra apologized for how he spoke to one employee.)

"MCSPCA Board president Andrew Grossman is gratified to announce that Mr. Sheldon Vogel, in a show of solidarity and support for the Monmouth County SPCA and his belief in its leadership and mission, will be donating $100,000 to the shelter," the shelter wrote Friday, Aug. 9. "We are so thankful for all who continue to support our shelter and its mission to advocate for homeless, abused and neglected animals."

Licitra is paid a salary of $132,692 to run the shelter, in funding that comes from private donations and taxpayer-funded contracts the SPCA has with various Monmouth County towns.

In late July, an unnamed SPCA employee released this recording, in which he secretly recorded Licitra and SPCA assistant director Barbara Lovell berating him after he questioned why a dog was euthanized. In the recording, Licitra repeatedly tells the employee he is "stupid" and tells him "You have zero right to question anything. Anything. You're nobody."

The same week that recording was made public, a second SPCA employee filed a report with Eatontown Police on July 30. That second employee said Licitra similarly bullied him, even implied he wanted to cut his throat, when he too brought up concerns over a decision to euthanize the same dog, a female pit bull named Shy Baby.

Both employees said Shy Baby did not have to be killed. Both employees have since been fired by Licitra.

The second employee said Licitra told him "when people are rude to his managers, it makes him want to reach over the desk and cut their throat and watch them bleed out on the floor."

Licitra not only runs the county dog pound; he is also an elected Monmouth County commissioner, which means he oversees the day-to-day running of Monmouth County. He is considered a high-ranking insider in the Monmouth County Republican Party, and usually seen at their functions and social events.

The Monmouth County Board of Commissioners condemned the way Licitra spoke to his staff, calling his comments "inappropriate."

However, Grossman said he and the entire Monmouth County SPCA Board of Trustees — which includes some of the wealthiest residents in Monmouth County, including Laura Saker, heiress to the Saker ShopRite fortune — stand behind Licitra:

"We acknowledge that the manner in which Director Licitra first addressed the employee was unacceptable and we do appreciate his apology," said Grossman last week. "We agree that the leader of an organization with a reputation as fine as the MCSPCA should never allow himself to lose his temper while disciplining a staff member. The Monmouth County SPCA Board acknowledges that mistakes were made in handling this situation, but we must also acknowledge that the proven track record of this leadership team is undeniable."

'Stupid.' 'You're Nobody.' Monmouth SPCA Director Berates Worker (July 28)

Monmouth SPCA Director Licitra Apologizes For Outburst On Employee (July 29)

Ross Licitra Accused Of Threatening A 2nd Monmouth SPCA Employee (Aug. 7)

This Change.org petition continues to circulate, calling for Licitra and Lovell to be removed from running the Monmouth County SPCA.