Animal Abuse: 36 dogs improperly tethered, inadequate food/water/shelter - Berlin, NJ

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Case ID: 18201

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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36 dogs improperly tethered, inadequate food/water/shelter
Berlin, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jul 8, 2011
County: Camden

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Ivan V. Murray

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

The New Jersey SPCA will file animal cruelty charges related to a case in which dozens of dogs and puppies were reportedly kept on a Norcross Road property with no house, police said on Friday.

Ivan Murray, 41, appeared in municipal court July 6 to face less serious citations in the case. He was accused of providing substandard housing to 36 dogs and nine puppies on his property, among other violations.

It wasn't clear whether Murray is the one, or the only one, who will face the cruelty charges.

A house that once stood on the property burned down, Winslow police Sgt. D. Fanelle said. Fanelle added that Murray had kept the dogs and puppies in animal "houses" kept on the property.

Police previously said investigators had examined the animals, but that "there were not any findings of animal cruelty" at the time.

Police did not specify what constitutes cruelty in the upcoming charges and declined to give any further details, saying the matter is still under investigation.

Murray is scheduled to appear again in municipal court July 13.

The earlier citations related to substandard housing for the dogs also included having unlicensed and unaltered tethered dogs, as well as a violation of a local ordinance requiring owners to keep dogs behind their homes.

Case Updates

Three South Jersey men allegedly involved in keeping dozens of pit bulls on a vacant property here have agreed to surrender them to the township, among other concessions, police announced on Wednesday.

Ivan Murray, 41, of Winslow, Darrell Murray, 33, of Sicklerville and Dannon Williams, 31, of Camden appeared in municipal court Wednesday on the matter.

Ivan Murray previously appeared in court July 6 to face citations alleging he was providing substandard housing to 37 dogs and 9 puppies on his vacant Norcross Road property.

Police said a house that had stood on the property previously burned down. Ivan Murray was also cited for having unlicensed and unaltered tethered dogs and not keeping the dogs behind a home as required by local ordinance.

Police later announced the New Jersey SPCA intended to file animal cruelty charges in the matter, although they didn't specify whether Ivan Murray would be the person or the only person charged.

It also was not clear by presstime whether those charges were actually filed, or whether the concessions the three men made Wednesday were meant to avoid charges.

The pit bulls will remain on the Norcross Road property for now, but removing them from there - without supervision by township animal control officers, the New Jersey SPCA or a veterinarian - is prohibited.

Police also said the three men agreed to provide food, water, shelter and veterinary care for the dogs, and to help animal control officers find new homes for them.

Anyone interested in adopted any of the pit bulls should contact David Sharples or Lee Kavafes, both township animal control officers, at 609-561-3300 extension 1063.

Potential new owners will undergo screening, including veterinary references.

The Murrays and Williams are scheduled to appear again in municipal court Aug. 10 at 8:30 a.m. for a follow-up on the dogs' placement.

Source: nj.com - Jul 14, 2011
Update posted on Jul 14, 2011 - 9:34PM

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36 dogs improperly tethered, inadequate food/water/shelterBerlin, NJ (US)

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36 dogs improperly tethered, inadequate food/water/shelter
Berlin, NJ (US)