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Resident commends animal control officer; commenters press for reinstatement, more code enforcement and bird‑flu protocol
Summary
A resident praised an animal control officer for rescuing pets from unsanitary conditions and asked the township to reinstate him; separate public comments questioned response capacity for sick wildlife and asked for more code enforcement staffing and options for hazardous-waste disposal.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — During public comment on March 25, Mary Warren commended Animal Control Officer Dave Matthews for entering an unsanitary home on Feb. 11 to rescue animals and urged the township to reinstate him to his animal‑control position. Warren said Officer Matthews rescued two dogs and two cats from the residence and described his actions as ‘‘a credit to himself and reflect[ing] his dedication to his position in the town and the community which he served.’’
Warren also praised Code Enforcement Officer Tony Vasquez for handling the situation that included a minor child, and she asked the township to consider hiring additional code‑enforcement staff, citing heavy workloads.
Later in public comment, other residents raised animal‑health concerns including possible avian influenza (bird flu) and asked about the animal‑control contract and the department’s ability to respond to sick wildlife. One resident said police responded to a report and animal control attended but was limited in what it could do for live wildlife; the mayor asked for a date and time so staff could cross‑check response records.
Separately, Warren asked what nearby facilities accept hazardous household waste on evenings and Sundays; the transcript records the question but officials did not supply a list during the meeting.
Why it matters: The remarks touch on public‑health and animal‑welfare protocols, staffing in code enforcement and animal control, and whether contracted services are adequate to meet resident needs for wildlife and hazardous waste response.
What officials said next: The mayor and staff said they would review the matter and consider staffing and contractual issues with bargaining units and department heads; they also asked residents to provide the date and time of the animal incident so records could be checked.
