By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
HOWELL – The elderly owner of 12 dogs and two horses that were rescued by the Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA) has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges in Howell municipal court.
MCSPCA Humane Police were alerted to the situation by animal control officers who had responded to investigate a report of a horse running loose in the area of Fort Plains Road.
The animal control officers were from the Associated Humane Societies, Tinton Falls, which has a contract with Howell for animal control services.
The animal control officers recovered the stray horse and determined it had escaped from a penned area at a residence on Fort Plains Road, according to Licitra.
The animal control officers were able to determine where the horse had escaped from and when they returned the horse to its home they discovered that the horse, plus one more horse and 12 dogs that were living at the rear of the property were all living in deplorable conditions.
Licitra said the situation was one of “absolute filth and garbage” and he described the property as “overgrown.” He said there were makeshift outdoor runs and holes in a structure in which the dogs were living that allowed the dogs access to the runs.
Licitra said trees were growing through the structure and the dogs were exposed to the elements. He said Duchateau was feeding the animals.
“This animal cruelty case was heartbreaking and disturbing on many levels,” he said. “Unlike other hoarding cases in recent history where we uncovered animals living in deplorable conditions, their owners were living among them.
“In this case the dogs were left outside, confined in absolutely filthy and frightening conditions, while the owner stayed in the home, safe and sound. This is the mission of the SPCA Law Enforcement division, to find and rescue these poor souls who are completely helpless in these situations,” Licitra said.
