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NJSPCA Seeks to Block State Investigation

From News12 New Jersey, Kane in Your Corner: The attorney for the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is suing a state investigative agency in an effort to block the release of the results of a state investigation into his client.

Legal documents obtained by Kane In Your Corner show the attorney, Harry Levin, filed the lawsuit against the New Jersey Commission of Investigation just hours after NJSPCA President Steve Shatkin proclaimed at a public meeting that “the SCI looked under every rock and quite frankly found no illegality, no corruption, no stealing, no fraud, no nothing.”

Really? We will see.

See KIYC’s coverage here.

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AHS-Newark’s Absurd Response to Deplorable Conditions and Inhumane Practices

The Newark Patch recently broke a story about the joint state and Newark City health departments’ inspection of Associated Humane Societies-Newark. The findings were otrageous – inhumane, disguting conditions and cruel practices.

AHS’s Executive Director, Roseann Trezza, did not comment on the inspection and send Assistant Executive Director, Jill Van Tuyl, to talk to the media.  Aside from the ED’s refusal to stand and defend her actions and lack of actions, here’s their response, reported by the New Jersey Animal Observer.

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AHS Newark Shelter Gets Grim Report While Animals Suffer

On Aug. 22, spurred by a complaint, four Newark and New Jersey Department of Health officials performed a joint inspection of the AHS Newark facility. While touring the building, the inspectors allegedly witnessed all manner of violations.

This is tragic and disturbing on so many levels, especially given the fact that AHS Newark is reportedly sitting on several million dollars that could be used to completely rehab the facility and hire more staff.

It should be noted, though, the the AHS Volunteers do an amazing job under terrible conditions and they advocate for those animals as well as humanly possible.  They are a wonderful group of caring, loving, giving people.

The shelter system is BROKEN and it’s an indictment of our society as a whole that we allow this to continue.

 

 

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Animal Abuse Charge Levied in Montclair

In a now widely-reported incident with video coverage, a Montclair, NJ resident who was a LYFT driver but not driving a customer at the time, is alleged to have thrown a dog out of the car of another motorist with whom he was fighting.

The dog, a 12 year old female miniature pinscher, is reportedly bruised and traumatized but will be ok.  Thankfully!

For details on this terrible but all-too-common incident, click here.

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Finally, Animal Cruelty is Rewarded with Jail Time

A Staten Island man was sentenced to 300 days in jail Friday on animal cruelty charges for inflicting serious injuries on a dog that resulted in the animal’s death.

I don’t have statistics, but it is common knowledge that animal abuse, even the killing of innocent animals, rarely results in jail or prison time.  It’s a problem in our society – many of us truly care about animal welfare, but not enough of us are putting pressure on legislatures and law enforcement agencies to do what they should: enact strong laws and enforce them.

Information about the conviction and sentencing of Nicholas Piccolino can be found here.

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The Sickening and Inhumane Specter of Puppy Mills

“Animal people” like us are avowed enemies of puppy mills, which are just horror shows that represent animal cruelty by  definition. We need NATIONAL legislation to outlaw these criminal enterprises, but sadly, few of our “representatives” in Congress give a damn about animals.

Still, if you’re a skeptic and you think this is an overblown crisis, read this Rolling Stone piece.  And then tell me these places are ok.  You can’t.

Here’s but one quote: “Here were the parent dogs in desperate shape: blinded by cataracts and corneal ulcers; their jaws half-gone or missing entirely after their teeth had rotted away.  Some were so feeble they couldn’t stand erect; their paws were urine-scalded and their wrists were deformed from squatting on wire their entire lives.”

DON’T buy from breeders. Go to your local shelter and ADOPT.  When you buy from a puppy mill or cat breeder you are literally supporting animal cruelty.

 

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NJ Could Use HSUS’s Humane State Program!

HSUS has, by all accounts, a very thoughtful and effective communications program, Humane State, that trains law enforcement, including prosecutors, judges, officers, and others, along with the shelter/rescue community to combat animal crimes and strengthen the shelters.  It’s really a road show that they’ve taken to several states and Puerto Rico.

Seems to me that New Jersey badly needs this kind of program.

Frustratingly, HSUS has no contact information for this program or for general requests, but its phone numbers are:

202-452-1100, or 866-720-2676, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m ET

Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET