New Jersey sees 3 disturbing cases of animal abuse in 1 week

A live dog was found in a garbage bag in a dumpster at a kennel in Mahwah. Officials say 37 dogs were taken from that property on Tuesday when police raided the kennel.

Chris Keating

Feb 29, 2024, 10:43 PM

Updated 286 days ago

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New Jersey has seen three disturbing cases of animal cruelty over a period of one week. Two of those cases involved extreme instances of animal hoarding.
News 12 New Jersey checked in on the progress of a cat hoarding case in Paterson.
The effort continues to remove over 100 cats from a home along Madison Avenue in Paterson. That’s an effort that will likely go on until April as those doing rescue efforts must wait for animal rescues to step forward and take on those cats.
News 12 spoke with the head of the rescue that’s removing the cats from Paterson. Donna Moussa is with Homeless Tails Animal Rescue.
She’s been entering the home in full hazmat gear and removing the cats a few at a time. She retrieved two newborn kittens from the basement on Thursday.
“It’s the worst hoarder house I’ve seen in all of my 20 years,” Moussa says.
Moussa is grateful for all of the other animal rescues helping to take on those cats. But she says she will need more help.
“It’s really difficult for them because they’re taking on a big expense,” she says. “I need all of the rescues to commit to [taking several cats.]”
She’ll be back at the property on Monday to collect more.
In another case, a live dog was found in a garbage bag in a dumpster at a kennel in Mahwah. Officials say 37 dogs were taken from that property on Tuesday when police raided the kennel.
The owner of that shelter has been charged with animal cruelty.
Homeless Tails and other rescues welcome donations to help with the cost of caring for these animals.