People, kittens and pups can benefit from the Monmouth County SPCA’s Senior Snuggle Sundays, which will start Sept. 27 at the shelter in Eatontown.
BY SUNAYANA PRABHU
EATONTOWN – A cat or a puppy can often bring a smile that words cannot.
As the weather turns cooler and the days get shorter, the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA) is beginning two programs to bring out those smiles.
The nonprofit will offer Senior Snuggle Sundays for older people and Memory Circle, a pet bereavement group. Both programs will be offered at the Eatontown shelter at no cost.
Barbara Lovell, associate executive director and development director of the MCSPCA, was inspired by her own personal experience and created the new program for seniors that connects older adults with shelter animals.
“When my own father’s health began declining, both physically and cognitively, the delight he experienced cradling a puppy in his arms, smiling from ear to ear as he sang to it, was truly moving,” Lovell said in the MCSPCA’s Aug. 24 statement announcing the two new programs. “Watching those sweet moments made me wish I could somehow bottle that happiness and share it with other folks my dad’s age facing similar challenges.”
The goal is to create a relationship that benefits both parties: Seniors can experience companionship and comfort while shelter animals receive affection, attention and enrichment.
Senior Snuggle Sundays will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month, beginning Sept. 27. The program will give old- er adults an opportunity to spend a relaxed afternoon with shelter pets and MCSPCA therapy dogs. Participants can pet, cuddle and engage in gentle play with the animals. Staff and volunteers will be on site for assistance during the program.
The pet-bereavement Memory Circle will provide group grew out of the deep bonds families forge with their pets and the pain that follows when those pets die.
Memory Circle will provide that a place for people grieving the loss of a pet to share their experiences, be heard and honor animals that have played an important role in their lives.
MCSPCA volunteer TJ Flanagan conceived the group after his own dog died. According to the organization, Flanagan found that grieving a pet can be isolating. While the death of a person may bring established rituals, check-ins and broader social support, sympathy surrounding the loss of a pet can fade quickly.
After researching pet bereavement, Flanagan approached MCSPCA leadership about creating a place where people experiencing similar grief could come together. The group will welcome people whose loss is recent as well as those who continue to carry grief from a pet who died years or even decades ago.
Memory Circle will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month beginning Oct. 27.
The MCSPCA also created a Garden of Memories in July. It is a walking pathway on its premises where community members can honor beloved pets and loved ones with permanent memorials. Engraved bricks and aluminum plaques can be placed on the walkway as tributes with inscribed names, dates, photos and personal messages. Proceeds from the sale of the bricks and plaques support animals in the MCSPCA’s care.
The MCSPCA was founded in 1945 to care for homeless, neglected and abused animals. The nonprofit’s mission is to protect animals while strengthening the human-animal bond through compassionate care, advocacy, collaboration, education and community services.
More information about Senior Snuggle Sundays, Memory Circle and other MCSPCA programs is available on the MCSPCA website at monmouthcountyspca.org.
This article originally appeared in the September 10-16, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
