| Animal abusers can't escape the law | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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February is shaping up to be another month of “big busts” by the Monmouth County SPCA Law Enforcement Division. For example, we recently received a guilty plea on a case out of Asbury Park that involved five pit bulls, two adult dogs and three puppies. The judge granted the Monmouth County SPCA the right to keep ownership in the plea agreement so that we can put the three puppies up for adoption. Unfortunately, upon our arrival at the location, the two adult dogs were found dead, the obvious victims of extreme animal cruelty. One of the dogs was found in a garbage can in front of the residence. The other dog was starved to death. The owner had put a large truck tire and a piece of plywood in front of the pit bull’s doghouse so that the dog could not go out to get food or water. A bench warrant has been issued for the owner and this case will be dealt with soon. Additionally, a recent incident of alleged animal abuse took place in Middletown. Much of the case cannot be discussed at this point due to an upcoming court date. On Monday, February 7, the Monmouth County SPCA Law Enforcement Division and the Middletown Police Department dispatched officers to a Middletown home in reference to a call that a suspect was trying to kill or beat his dog. The dog in question was a Yorkie, and all three-and-a-half pounds of the animal was being thrown around and choked about the neck. When we arrived at the scene, the suspect produced two martial arts weapons called Escrima Sticks. Unfortunately for him, it is one of the weapons I teach at my martial arts academy. I practiced a sweeping technique on him and the Middletown police officer on the scene proved a good shot with his chemical spray. After sweeping ‘Mr. Tough Guy’ and making sure the Yorkie was safe from harm, the suspect was handcuffed and transported to the Middletown Police Department. He was later housed as the county’s guest at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold. His court date is coming up. The good news is that the Yorkie is going to be fine and is already fostered out of a great home. The Monmouth County SPCA Law Enforcement Division and myself would like to thank Patrolman Darrin Simon of the Middletown Police Department for his help in the arrest of this suspect. Another interesting case that came in this month was based out of Freehold. An individual was suspected of not taking care of his American Bull Dog, a breed that is often confused with a pit bull. This case was particularly strange because the neighbor of the dog owner was in fact providing the proper care for the dog, including veterinary bills, feeding the dog and building a doghouse so that it would have protection from the weather. The problem was that the dog was being housed on someone else’s property, and the true owner of the dog just did not understand that it was his responsibility to take care of the dog and not the neighbors. The dog was removed from the property and we will foster it until this case goes to court, if indeed it does. On a humorous note, the Monmouth County SPCA Law Enforcement Division was dispatched to a dead dog call in Keansburg. The dog in question was on the second floor balcony of a house and was covered with a blanket. Upon arrival, we discovered that the dog was in fact a stuffed dog prepared by a taxidermist. The dog was dead, but it had been dead for many years and the owner wanted to keep it out of love, so she had it mounted. No cruelty there. (Buddy Amato, a resident of Keansburg, is chief of the Law Enforcement Division of the Monmouth County SPCA.) (Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato is the chief investigator for the Monmouth County SPCA, headquartered in Eatontown. For more information about this column, call (732) 671-9555.) Buddy Amato is a Hazlet business owner, who operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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