By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — The manager of the Old Bridge Animal Shelter is expected to appear in municipal court next week on alleged animal cruelty charges that she left a cat to suffer in pain from massive dental issues for more than a month.
On Feb. 21, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) announced that they had charged Karen Chen with failure to provide necessary veterinary care and inflicting unnecessary cruelty to a cat named Jupiter as far back as November 2016, according to Matt Stanton, spokesman for the NJSPCA.
The charges were a result of an anonymous tip that the NJSPCA received on Dec. 20, 2016, alleging a cat at the shelter was in pain due to dental issues. That same day, the NJSPCA arrived at the shelter and observed the cat in question in poor shape, according to reports.
Shelter records indicated the cat was admitted as a stray on Sept. 26, 2016. When questioned, Chen indicated she was aware of the cat’s dental issues and was going to schedule care “next week”; however, the NJSPCA advised her to take the cat to the vet the very same day to address the matter.
During the NJSPCA’s follow-up visit on Dec. 24, the cat appeared to have had nine abscessed teeth. Medical reports confirmed that the cat was treated for those teeth that same day, according to Stanton, and was eating well.
The NJSPCA continued with its investigation and determined that the cat was in pain due to the dental issues as far back as November of 2016 and was provided no medical care.
During the investigation, further review of the cat’s records indicate a note on the medical form dated Dec. 14, 2016, that the cat had “dental disease,” but no action was requested.
The NJSPCA said further review of veterinary records of Jupiter, who is still available for adoption, is ongoing.
The court copies of the summonses against Chen were delivered to the Old Bridge Municipal Court, along with a request for a change of venue as Chen is a township employee.
Notice to appear was set for 6 p.m. March 8.
Business Administrator Christopher Marion said the township cannot comment on personnel matters.
