TOMS RIVER – Fumes from a car exhaust killed a dog in April and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case after local authorities decided not to press charges, officials said Thursday.
The dog’s owner allegedly hooked a line from a car’s exhaust to a "makeshift" container to euthanize the dog, Toms River Assistant Attorney Anthony Merlino said.
“The Township has decided not to take any action within its jurisdiction,” Merlino said. “There were extenuating circumstances in the investigation that led the authorities to conclude that it was not warranted in this instance.”
At the July 8 council meeting, a “handful” of people showed up with signs and one person spoke during public comment asking questions, but was told there would be no comment due to the pending investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Merlino said.
Prosecutor’s office Capt. Jack Sramaty confirmed there was an investigation into someone killing their dog with exhaust fumes, but said the case is active and couldn’t provide additional details on Thursday.
Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco said the department was aware of the incident but Toms River Animal Control handled the investigation. Stocco said the police department was not involved in the investigation and referred questions to Merlino or the prosecutor’s office.
Monmouth County SPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer Victor “Buddy” Amato said in general, it’s illegal to euthanize an animal using a car exhaust. Amato is not involved in the Toms River case.
“That is totally against the law,” Amato said. “You can’t just take your dog and stick it in the car, hook it up to the exhaust and gas it.”
Amato said if a person used exhaust to kill an animal in Monmouth County, they would be charged with animal cruelty. Several years ago, Amato said he charged someone in Keansburg with animal cruelty for using a car exhaust to kill a cat and was convicted.
If an animal needs to be euthanized, Amato said it should be taken to a vet to be done humanely.
“That’s why you have vets,” Amato said. “It’s definitely wrong.”
Arrest, Charge & Convict Abusive Dog Owner in Tom's River, NJ
- by: Donna Earley
- recipient: Ocean County Prosecutor, Joseph D Coronato, Prosecutor's Office 119 Hooper Ave, P.O. Box 2191, Toms River, NJ 08754-2191 (732) 929-2027
We the people demand law officials to quit turning their back on abused animals and start enforcing the laws which carry felony charges on animal abuse. This dog owner should have already been jailed for the horrible way he killed his dog. Your people are asking why you have not charged him to date. We are asking that immediate attention be given on this case and action take at once/
On April 14th, a Toms River resident took it upon himself to kill his dog in his driveway, in plain sight of neighbors and people that were passing by. As if it wasn't bad enough that he was killing a dog in his driveway, it was the way he killed this poor animal that made it so horrific. He placed this dog, named Mocha, in a crate, (pictured here, after the body of the dog was removed) sealed the crate so the dog had no chance of escape, hooked up the exhaust pipe from his car to the crate, and gassed the dog to death. The dog suffered and screamed in agony while her lungs and eyes burned. This is a horrifying, painful way to die, to say the least. There were several witnesses to this barbaric act, including a female neighbor that begged the man to stop. This story has been kept very quiet for the last three months but finally, word is getting out to the media as Toms River residents and concerned citizens question why wasn't this man prosecuted yet? What is taking so long to "investigate" this case, when there were witnesses and a body. What is the state agency doing that is supposed to protect animals and their rights, about this despicable crime. Enough is enough. Something needs to be done NOW.....we demand justice for Mocha. Click here for the most recent article on this case:http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2014/07/prosecutors_probe_dogs_death_by_car_exhaust_in_toms_river.html
We the people demand law officials to quit turning their back on abused animals and start enforcing the laws which carry felony charges on animal abuse. This dog owner should have already been jailed for the horrible way he killed his dog. Your people are asking why you have not charged him to date. We are asking that immediate attention be given on this case and action take at once/
On April 14th, a Toms River resident took it upon himself to kill his dog in his driveway, in plain sight of neighbors and people that were passing by. As if it wasn't bad enough that he was killing a dog in his driveway, it was the way he killed this poor animal that made it so horrific. He placed this dog, named Mocha, in a crate, (pictured here, after the body of the dog was removed) sealed the crate so the dog had no chance of escape, hooked up the exhaust pipe from his car to the crate, and gassed the dog to death. The dog suffered and screamed in agony while her lungs and eyes burned. This is a horrifying, painful way to die, to say the least. There were several witnesses to this barbaric act, including a female neighbor that begged the man to stop. This story has been kept very quiet for the last three months but finally, word is getting out to the media as Toms River residents and concerned citizens question why wasn't this man prosecuted yet? What is taking so long to "investigate" this case, when there were witnesses and a body. What is the state agency doing that is supposed to protect animals and their rights, about this despicable crime. Enough is enough. Something needs to be done NOW.....we demand justice for Mocha. Click here for the most recent article on this case:http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2014/07/prosecutors_probe_dogs_death_by_car_exhaust_in_toms_river.html
TOMS RIVER – Fumes from a car exhaust killed a dog in April and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case after local authorities decided not to press charges, officials said Thursday.
The dog’s owner allegedly hooked a line from a car’s exhaust to a "makeshift" container to euthanize the dog, Toms River Assistant Attorney Anthony Merlino said.
“The Township has decided not to take any action within its jurisdiction,” Merlino said. “There were extenuating circumstances in the investigation that led the authorities to conclude that it was not warranted in this instance.”
At the July 8 council meeting, a “handful” of people showed up with signs and one person spoke during public comment asking questions, but was told there would be no comment due to the pending investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Merlino said.
Prosecutor’s office Capt. Jack Sramaty confirmed there was an investigation into someone killing their dog with exhaust fumes, but said the case is active and couldn’t provide additional details on Thursday.
Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco said the department was aware of the incident but Toms River Animal Control handled the investigation. Stocco said the police department was not involved in the investigation and referred questions to Merlino or the prosecutor’s office.
Monmouth County SPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer Victor “Buddy” Amato said in general, it’s illegal to euthanize an animal using a car exhaust. Amato is not involved in the Toms River case.
“That is totally against the law,” Amato said. “You can’t just take your dog and stick it in the car, hook it up to the exhaust and gas it.”
Amato said if a person used exhaust to kill an animal in Monmouth County, they would be charged with animal cruelty. Several years ago, Amato said he charged someone in Keansburg with animal cruelty for using a car exhaust to kill a cat and was convicted.
If an animal needs to be euthanized, Amato said it should be taken to a vet to be done humanely.
“That’s why you have vets,” Amato said. “It’s definitely wrong.”
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