Six dogs found dead in home
Franklinville, NJ (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
County: Gloucester
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged: Joseph Brodie
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Police Chief Michael DiGiorgio is keeping an eye on a Central Avenue home, where the skeletal remains of as many as six dogs were found December 2007.
Four other dogs still are being kept at the property.
The state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, headquartered in New Brunswick, has filed charges of failure to provide sustenance and veterinary care against the owner, Joseph Brodie, a Pennsylvania resident, who allegedly comes to the township every day to care for the dogs.
Brodie maintains he comes to the house every day to care for the animals, DiGiorgio said. The owner also said the dogs died of natural causes, and he was advised by a veterinarian he could not bury them in his yard, so he placed them in crates, according to the chief.
DiGiorgio was at the property Wednesday.
"The pens were clean, and the dogs had food and water," the chief said. "We're doing everything we can to monitor the situation. If necessary, I'll feed them myself."
The chief said a locksmith made the grim discovery after going to the property Dec. 12 in connection with a foreclosure proceeding.
"The dead dogs were in various stages of decomposition and stored in crates," DiGiorgio said. "Some were skeletal, indicating they had been dead for a long time."
The chief said there was no apparent evidence of animal abuse. He said a Gloucester County animal control officer found four dogs outside and seized them because they appeared to be abandoned, but the SPCA ordered them returned to Brodie pending court action.
"We're trying to take the dogs, but we want to do it legally," said state SPCA spokesman Matt Stanton.
It was unclear Friday if Brodie had been served with the complaints that were filed for the dead dogs and the remaining dogs. DiGiorgio said Brodie was cited for failure to license the dogs in 2007.
"The four remaining animals are hunting dogs," Stanton said. "They're usually kept lean and thin. They look like pheasant dogs."
Brodie is scheduled to appear in Franklin Township Municipal Court at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17, according to DiGiorgio.
Case UpdatesA public hearing for Joseph Brodie, charged with neglect of four living and six deceased dogs being kept on his Central Avenue property, has been postponed until Jan. 24.
The postponement from a scheduled Thursday hearing will allow Brodie to obtain legal representation.
There are a total of 16 counts against Brodie including failure to provide food, water and adequate shelter and failure to provide licensing for the dogs.
"I take good care of my animals," Brodie said on Thursday.
"The dead animals are dogs that came with me when they were four and five years old. I'm discussing with my vet how to dispose of them."
Six dead dogs were found in Brodie's home on Dec. 12 when a locksmith contracted by his mortgage company entered the house. According to police Chief Michael DiGiorgio, the animals appeared to have been dead for about a year.
The four living dogs outside two English setters, one English pointer and one chocolate Labrador were taken to the Gloucester County Animal Shelter in Clayton.
Brodie is currently residing in Levittown, Pa.
In addition to the municipal charges, the state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals filed charges against Brodie for neglect of the dogs, both alive and dead.
However, the dogs were returned to Brodie on Dec. 17 per the advisement of the SPCA. DiGiorgio has been checking on the animals' food and water supply everyday since they were returned.
"I'm just disgusted that those dogs are still in this man's care," said township resident Vicki McCabe.
"My sister his neighbor has been complaining since 2000 about this guy and especially the constant smell from the yard. There is no way that man drives here every day to feed and care for those dogs. We just want them removed."
McCabe said the dogs have improper shelter, though Brodie said each animal has an insulated doghouse.
"One dog lives in a barrel turned sideways," countered McCabe.
"There is no running water to wash away their droppings. The dogs are not let out. And where are the vet records to prove that those other six died a natural death? He hasn't lived there in two years."
McCabe and fellow resident Kathy Phillips said they would be working to change the laws about pet ownership in the township.
"We just want what's best for these dogs," said Phillips.
"This is not a personal vendetta. This is not a safe environment for those animals."
Brodie's hearing will be held in the Franklin Township Municipal Building at 4:30 p.m. | Source: Gloucester County Times - Jan 18, 2008
Update posted on Jan 18, 2008 - 5:37PM |
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