Attorneys/Judges
| Judge(s): | Michael D. Pugliese |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #14520 Rating: 1.4 out of 5
Backyard breeders - dog with maggot infestation
Middletown, NJ (US)Incident Date: Friday, Sep 5, 2008
County: Monmouth
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Lynda Schult - Dismissed (Conditional)
» Edward Schult
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A couple from the Belford section have each been charged with two counts of animal cruelty for failing to provide food and sustenance to an ailing basset hound, authorities said.
In addition, on Friday the pair voluntarily surrendered 20 Shih Tzu puppies that investigators described as unkempt to the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The animals all were kept at the couple's residence at 93 Palmer St., police said.
Edward and Lynda Schult are slated to answer the animal cruelty charges on Oct. 10 in Middletown Municipal Court, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County SPCA.
The nine-year-old basset hound was brought to Home Veterinary Service in Middletown emaciated and suffering from ulcerated tumors and maggot infestation, Amato said.
"This dog was basically starving and nearly a skeleton," Amato said. "It was clear the dog had not been cared for at all."
The dog had to be euthanized, Amato said.
Edward Schult disputed the charges. He said the basset hound had always been properly fed and given water.
"I didn't know her condition was as bad as it was," he said. "She had lost a lot of weight in the last two days. That's why I took her to the vet."
Schult said the Shih Tzus also were well cared for. He confirmed the voluntary surrender of the 20 animals to the SPCA, but said he still has four other dogs at his home.
"(The Shih Tzus) are all going to go to good homes now," he said.
Amato said the SCPA had cleaned the pups up and that they were ready to be adopted.
For the SPCA agents, the case had a sense of deja vu, Amato said.
"Last November, this couple had also made a voluntary surrender of 20 Shih Tzus," Amato said. "At that time, they also agreed that they would stop breeding the dogs at their home. Apparently that didn't happen."
Amato said the pups have all been bathed and are healthy.
"These are purebred dogs that will be good pets," he said. "We're just hoping we get a good response from people looking to adopt them."
Anyone interested in adopting a pup can call the SPCA at (732) 542-5608.
Case UpdatesA man from the Belford section was fined $500 Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge in municipal court.
Edward Schult told Municipal Court Judge Michael D. Pugliese he failed to obtain proper veterinary care for his 9-year-old basset hound. A similar charge against his wife, Lynda, was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
In addition, Schult was ordered to stop breeding dogs at his residence at 93 Palmer St., said Victor "Buddy" Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which had filed the charges against Schult.
Pugliese told Schult he could keep the 10 dogs that remain at his home, but that he is prohibited from doing any animal breeding there.
"They all have to be spayed and neutered, according to the judge, and the SPCA has been told to conduct periodic inspections to ensure compliance," Amato said.
The SPCA removed 20 shih tzu puppies from the Schult residence on Sept. 5, Amato said. Those pups were all unkempt and required substantial grooming, Amato said. All have since been adopted, he added.
The basset hound was brought to Home Veterinary Service in Middletown emaciated and suffering from ulcerated tumors and maggot infestation, Amato said.
"This dog was basically starving and nearly a skeleton," he added. "It was clear the dog had not been cared for at all."
The dog had to be euthanized, Amato said.
Edward Schult initially disputed the charges. He said the basset hound had always been properly fed and given water.
"I didn't know her condition was as bad as it was," he said at the time he was charged. "She had lost a lot of weight in the last two days. That's why I took her to the vet."
Schult said the shih tzus removed from his home were all well cared for. He confirmed the voluntary surrender of the 20 animals to the SPCA.
For the SPCA agents, the case had a sense of deja vu, Amato said.
"Last November, this couple had also made a voluntary surrender of 20 shih tzus," Amato said. "At that time, they also agreed that they would stop breeding the dogs at their home. Apparently that didn't happen." | Source: Asbury Park Press - Oct 9, 2008
Update posted on Oct 9, 2008 - 9:52AM |
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