ASBURY PARK, NJ — An Asbury Park woman was arrested and criminally charged after police say she left four cats outside in a cage for an extended period of time.
Breyonna Owens, 33, is charged with four counts of animal cruelty and four counts of abandonment, said Asbury Park Police. A court date is set for later this month.
On Oct. 11, the Asbury Park Police Department received a call regarding a welfare check of several cats confined in a cage at 1305 Summerfield Avenue.
The Monmouth County SPCA, which posted this photo from the scene, said the cats were left in a mesh tunnel, but police report it was a cage.
They were left there for "a prolonged period of time," and exposed to periods of heavy rainfall from Hurricane Isaias that weekend. The temperatures were also approximately 60 degrees, with sustained winds ranging from 15-20 MPH, said Asbury Park Police Sgt. Michael Casey.
The enclosure did not contain any food or water and had piles of cat feces inside of it, said the police sergeant.
The cats were observed shaking, huddled together and soaking wet. All four exhibited signs of malnutrition.
"Put into a mesh tunnel and thrown outside in the pouring rain," the Monmouth County SPCA posted at the time they were found. "These poor, innocent animals were discarded outside like trash. Soaking wet, freezing, covered in fleas, and beyond confused about what was happening to them."
The cats have been cared for, examined by a vet and all four are now available for adoption, with photos of each one here.
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