Last of the Sussex County abandoned dogs captured
Three people were arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
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The last of the dogs abandoned in Sussex County earlier this month have been captured, a volunteer organization said.
Rescue organization Hound Hunters of NJ, Inc. said the final dog was found in Stillwater Friday night, more than a mile from where it was dumped.
"With a dog being trapped on Friday night in Stillwater over a mile away from his dumping site, we think the last of the dumped hoarding dogs in Sussex County have all been captured! As of this morning, there have been no new sightings in Wantage, Stillwater or Lafayette. We are hopeful that they have all been found," Hound Hunters of NJ, Inc. posted on Facebook Sunday.
The investigation began March 16 when New Jersey State troopers from the Sussex Station received reports of abandoned animals in Stillwater, Lafayette and Wantage. In the days that followed, dozens of dogs were located throughout the area through a coordinated effort involving the Sussex County Sheriff's Office, Wantage Animal Control and multiple other volunteer rescue groups and animal control agencies.
"A lot of these dogs are being found with rotten teeth and infections. Most of them will need to get into the vet for dentals and bloodwork as well as being fixed before they are adopted," Hound Hunters said. "We believe there have been approximately 50 dogs that have been captured in Sussex County, including six that are deceased."
On March 18, following a two-day investigation, authorities arrested three Phillipsburg residents believed to be responsible for abandoning the dogs. Joshua Ciemniecki, 19; Kaila McNeill, 30; and Robert Ciemniecki, 74, all face multiple counts of animal cruelty. Authorities have not yet released information regarding a possible motive for the abandonments.
The suspects are due in court in Newton on April 20.
