NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, NJ — The remains of a dead pit bull and two other pit bulls that were starving and sick were discovered Monday in a Neptune Township backyard, said the Monmouth County SPCA and Neptune Twp. Police.
A total of 10 cats and dogs, all alive, were being kept in "filthy, deplorable" conditions, without food and water, said police.
An anonymous resident first contacted Neptune Twp. Police about animals living in the yard in "deplorable conditions," said the SPCA.
Officers said they arrived at the home Monday to find a grim scene: The remains of one dead adult pit bull were found stored in a garbage pail on the side of the house. Its cause of death is unknown.
Two female pit bulls were living in an overgrown chain-link pen with plastic dog houses and baby pools. They had no food or water. Both were underweight with overgrown nails and were missing patches of fur.
Both females looked as if they had been bred multiple times, said the SPCA. However, the agency said it was happy to report that neither female was currently pregnant.
Also, eight kittens were rescued from a "filthy" outdoor enclosure; all of them appeared to have upper respiratory infections.
All 10 animals are now being housed at the Monmouth County SPCA headquarters in Eatontown.
Multiple counts of animal cruelty were filed against the property owners.
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