Category: Animal law enforcement

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90 Days in Jail for NJ Animal Killer. Progress, just not enough.

Well, Joseph Russo of Stafford, NJ was sentenced last Friday to three months in jail for killing a would-be therapy dog, Diesel, a three year old Pomerian who was in training to assist a US Navy veteran.  Russo will also be placed on probation for five years, during which he will be prohibited from owning an animal — though he should by rights be prohibited for life in my view. It’s not clear from this article exactly how Russo had abused the pup in a way that led to his death. 

While a year or two in prison would have been more appropriate, it’s still a very successful prosecution  by Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Carr, in accordance with “Patrick’s Law.” The 2013 law, named after an emaciated pit bull who was thrown down a trash chute, increased penalties for abusing, neglecting and torturing animals according to the article.

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What’s With all the Animal Hoarding in New Jersey?

In July alone in New Jersey, there were two cases of huge numbers of animals being hoarded, and thankfully, rescued from deplorable and disgusting conditions.

The first involved more than 170 cats, who have been taken to St. Hubert’s, which thankfully can handle such massive numbers of distressed animals. Some of them are already available for adoption at St. Hubert’s!  Information about that incident can be found HERE.

A few days later, 25 dogs were found in a home in Ewing, and subsequently taken to EASEL Animal Rescue Shelter and Adoption Center. Information about that case can be found HERE.

 

 

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Lawyer Dante Di Pirro Steps Up to Save Animals Killed in Hamilton Shelter

New Jersey attorney Dante Di Pirro, who has a long record representing the interests of homeless and abused animals and opposing animal shelter operators who flout the law, has put the Hamilton NJ Municipal Shelter on notice. He’s sent them a litter promising a class-action lawsuit unless they stop euthanizing–killing–owner surrendered animals before the mandatory hold period, during which the animals must be offered for adoption.

Di Pirro notes that statements made at the recent Hamilton Township council meeting by Shelter representatives show that “they are aware of the law, refuse to follow the express and unambiguous language of the statute, and fail to comply with their non-discretionary, mandatory duty to offer each such animal for adoption for at least seven days.”

Good on you Dante!

His letter to the Mayor and Council can be found HERE.

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The History and Downfall of the Disgraced NJSPCA

This interesting and detailed piece provides much of the history of the disgraceful New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA), a “gun club” of “wanna-be cops” who did little to help suffering, homeless and abused animals but clearly enjoyed pretending they were police.

This band of clowns was finally dissolved as a “law enforcement” organization by a NJ law, sponsored by former NJ State Senator Ray Lesniak, passed without opposition and signed by Governor Christie on his last full day in office.

HERE’s the piece itself.

And HERE’s the report from the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation titled “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing. “

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Sweet Pups being cruelly abandoned in Woodbridge?

According to hyper-local online news outlet Woodbridge Patch, It appears someone may be cruelly and illegally abandoning pitbull-type dogs near the Jose Tejas Mexican restaurant on Rt. 1 in Woodbridge. This is according to the Woodbridge Animal Group, volunteers who support the very fine Woodbridge Animal shelter.

Coverage from the Patch is HERE.

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Sadly, there are more Michael Vicks out there

An Asbury Park, New Jersey man was recently sentenced to two years in federal prison for his part in a cruel and nefarious dog fighting ring that stretched from New Mexico to New Jersey.   This evil man admitted to a federal judge that he dumped a pitbull who “lost” a dogfight in Virginia after the dog died on the ride back to New Jersey.  See the Hackensack, NJ Daily Voice coverage HERE.

it’s encouraging that at least some such people, whose depravity and barbarism cannot be overstated, are finally being forced to pay a price for their actions.  Those of us who care about animals would like to see them confined for life–or worse–but I hope two years in a federal lockup will send a message that such cruelty is finally being rewarded by real punishment.

Stay engaged and keep up the fight.

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PETA is not an animal rights group – it’s a killing machine?

It’s hard to understand what to make of this. Or even how it’s possible for an organization named “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” — and which opposes things including not eating turkey on Thanksgiving to the prohibition of harvesting animal furs — itself advocates the killing of an entire category of animals: the so-called Pitbull dog.  And kills them itself.

It’s important to understand that “Pitbull” is NOT A BREED.  It is a catch-all term for a undefined group of mixed-breed or purebred dogs that have certain physical characteristics.  Or, that some “official” merely looks at a dog and decides it as such. Although there are some breeds such as American Staffordshire Terrrier that are defined as “Pitbulls,”  the only way to know a dog’s breed is to DNA test it.  Moreover, many Pitbull-type dogs are categorized as among the LEAST aggressive dogs, according to the American Temperament Test Society, Inc. 

Anyway, PETA has a long and sordid history of supporting the killing of “Pitbull-type dogs” as well as killing hundreds of them every year in its so-called “shelter” according to activist and attorney Nathan Winograd.  He has followed this issue for years and HERE is his latest post on PETA’s practices by this group that purports to care for the lives of innocent animals.

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Dog Dies Tragically on United – but MANY more are Killed Daily

By now you all surely know about the sweet French Bulldog Kokito who died tragically and unnecessarily aboard a United Airlines flight when he was stuffed into the overhead compartment on the orders of a flight attendant. 

More pet mishaps happened on United in short order, though at least the CEO didn’t try to pretend that it wasn’t the airline’s fault. But United has a sordid history of neglect of animals aboard its flights that has often resulted in their deaths.

While we mourn the loss of this little angel, hundreds of healthy, adoptable animals in New Jersey are being unnecessarily killed — “euthanized” is the euphemism we love to use.  We need to mourn their loss, too, and put a stop to this.  First we need to get the attention of New Jersey’s new Governor and Attorney General.

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Some Justice for Abused Animals at AHS-Newark? Finally, Perhaps (UPDATED)

After two inspections this fall by the City of Newark and NJ’s Department of Health uncovered horrible and disgusting conditions and a slew of violations at the Associate Humane Societies-Newark (AHS-Newark) , the Executive Director of the facility was charged with several civil and criminal violations of New Jersey’s animal cruelty statutes.

Now, before the the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) cynically struts and preens and tries to claim credit, this followed years of violations and years of failed inspections,  during which  NJSPCA – the state’s law enforcement agency for animal cruelty – took no action against AHS.

In fact, NJSPCA President Steve Shatkin asserted that his organization has no role with respect to shelters, during a public meeting of the NJSPCA Board:  “The NJSPCA is not the animal shelter police.”  SEE HIM SAYING THIS HERE at around the 4:22 mark. 

WPIX-TV 11 in New York was already covering this “House of Horrors” when the charges were finally issued, and their coverage is here. 

See other coverage HERE and HERE.

UPDATE – on December 11, 2017, WPIX-TV 11 did another story on the AHS-Newark “House of Horrors” and exposed the fact that the NJSPCA only charged the Executive Director with a handful of violations, when there were HUNDREDS.  See for yourself HERE.