Backyard breeder charged with dogs in small cages
Bridgewater, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Mar 30, 2012
County: Somerset

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Lucia Mariani

A Bridgewater resident Friday was charged with two counts of animal cruelty by the Somerset County SPCA police. Lucia Mariani, 47, who resides in a home on Route 202/206, was issued the two violations for keeping dogs in cages too small for the animals.

It appears Mariani sells the dogs to the public from her home, police said.

State regulations require a caged animal to be able to stand in the cage and turn 360 degrees without hitting the roof or sides of the cage. Several of the cages were too small to allow the dogs to properly maneuver, police said.

"It is very important for pet owners to be fully aware of what they need to do if they want to have pets, especially if they intend to be in the business of adopting them out to the public," said Joe Biermann, president of the Somerset County SPCA.

The two violations, one criminal and the other civil, are subject to a maximum of $2,000 in fines and/or jail time. Police said the case is scheduled for first appearance arraignment in Bridgewater Municipal Court at 10 a.m. on April 18.

References

• « NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Somerset County, NJ

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