The Monmouth County SPCA is getting the word out about animal abuse during April, which is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month.

Experts say animal abuse can include leaving pets to fend for themselves in the harsh elements, sometimes resulting in hypothermia, not feeding animals and beating them. The SPCA says pets often exhibit signs of abuse, such as weight loss and hair loss.

The SPCA says the best thing humans can do to prevent animal cruelty is to control the pet population.

"The biggest problem is overpopulation," says Monmouth County SPCA Chief Buddy Amato. "You got all these animals running the streets like feral cats or dogs that have been kicked out."Amato says while abused animals can sometimes react negatively to humans, that doesn't mean that they can't recover and be placed in loving homes. Top 10 Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty Tips for Dog Adopters Tips for Cat Adopters Monmouth County SPCA