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Article Archive > Monmouth SPCA cites pest control company for animal cruelty Monmouth SPCA cites pest control company for animal cruelty SHREWSBURY - Two squirrels - a nursing mother and her baby - were rescued after they were trapped by a pest control company then left for days without sustenance, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, police chief of the Monmouth County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Amato said he charged Tom Homka, general manager of Cherry Hill-based Orkin Pest Control, with four counts of animal cruelty. Orkin was contracted to set squirrel traps at the Pottery Barn for Kids on Broad Street in Shrewsbury. The owner of the store discovered the animals trapped on Saturday and called the company, Amato said. No one responded on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, Amato said. On Tuesday, the store owner called police because the animals were trying to get out of the small cages and were dying, Amato said. The squirrels were taken to the Red Bank Animal Hospital for treatment. The baby was being rehabilitated while the animal control officers were trying to find the mother's nest so she could return to nursing her other babies, Amato said. Shrewsbury animal control "Officer Henry Perez did a really good job" in handling the animals, Amato said. The mother squirrel had to be given anesthesia so a veterinarian could repair cuts she sustained from trying to escape from the cage, Amato said. "This is thousands of dollars in fines here," Amato said. Pest control companies have been the subject of summonses from Amato who is hoping to get the message out that "if you trap an animal you own it. You are responsible for everything that animal needs, including shelter and water." The scheduled court date for the charges is June 16, Amato said.
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