 |
|
Article Archive > 1 cat dies, 2 others malnourished as former Middletown resident faces abandonment charges 1 cat dies, 2 others malnourished as former Middletown resident faces abandonment charges MIDDLETOWN - A former township resident faces criminal charges for moving out of his Thousand Oaks Village apartment on Halloween and leaving behind three cats, one of which starved to death, authorities said Sunday. Bryan C. Maraza, 36, who was being evicted from his apartment at 36 Thousand Oaks Drive, left without his three cats . Mommy, Daddy and Baby . on Oct. 31, according to Victor "Buddy'' Amato, chief law enforcement officer for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Amato said his office was alerted to the situation after a maintenance worker looked through the window of the vacant apartment Dec. 13 and noticed what appeared to be a dead animal. The worker immediately called police, who, in turn, called Amato's office. A MCSPCA investigator found Baby had starved to death and the other two cats were badly malnourished. Maraza was located in the Freehold area the next day, arrested and charged with four counts of animal cruelty . three counts of abandonment and one count of failure to provide proper sustainence. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. He also faces a total of $7,000 in fines. Amato said he still is trying to determine whether Maraza's claim that he notified the landlord and other authorities about leaving the animals is true. The two surviving cats were sent to the MCSPCA headquarters in Eatontown, where they are being nursed back to health. Mommy and Daddy are expected to be put up for adoption upon recovery at this no-kill shelter. Maraza is scheduled to appear in municipal court at 6 p.m., Jan. 11. Amato said the shelter has "hundreds'' of cats that are awaiting adoption. "We are so overrun with cats it is difficult to take in more, even in cases like this,'' he said, adding that this time of year creates a particular strain on his nonprofit agency. People who are financially strapped and wouldn't normally commit a criminal act tend to "walk away'' from their animals because "they panic.'' Amato said those who can no longer care for their pets should call the MCSPCA to collect the animals. The agency charges a $75 surrender fee. "Don't leave an animal to die,'' he said. To adopt a cat or make a donation call the MCSPCA at 732-542-0040. Amato said those willing to adopt may call his cell number at 732-312-7153 to expedite the process. |