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Monmouth County SPCA Chief Resigns Amid Racist Texts Allegations

FREEHOLD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - One of New Jersey's most visible animal control officers has resigned following a lawsuit which alleges he sent racist texts.

Victor "Buddy'' Amato was chief of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 12 years.

It's alleged in a lawsuit filed by an animal cruelty investigator, Suzanne DesMarais, that Amato compared blacks to primates and made degrading comments about Jews and homosexuals.

"They're jaw dropping when you read them," Executive Director of Garden State Equality Andrea Bowen told 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet.

Monmouth County SPCA Chief Resigns Amid Racist Texts Allegations

Bowen said Amato's alleged actions can't stand.

"This is exactly what we're fighting against," she said.

Bowen said the text messages are homophobic, racist and transphobic. She describes one of the texts as "a lengthy Christmas song that is all really, really homophobic references."

One recipient of the messages, Suzanne DesMarais, filed a complaint about them, Granet reported.

Amato tells the Asbury Park Press the texts were "a bunch of jokes'' between "a bunch of guys'' that reached a person who wasn't supposed to get them.

Amato wouldn't comment on the lawsuit or the content of the messages.

The 60-year-old says it was a pleasure serving the animals of Monmouth County.

The SPCA said the complaint is under a thorough investigation.

 (TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

 

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