Animal Cruelty Charges Filed Against Jackson Sanctuary Director Following Dog's Death

JACKSON, NJ — Two counts of animal cruelty have been filed against a Jackson woman who is the director of Seer Farms, a nonprofit animal sanctuary, the New Jersey SPCA announced.

Laura Pople, 55, was charged in Jackson Township Municipal Court with one civil count and one criminal count of animal cruelty, said Frank Rizzo, chief of the NJSPCA Humane Police.

Pople is accused of failing to provide necessary care to a 5-year-old cocker spaniel named Rocky that was otherwise in good health prior to it being cared for at Seer Farms, Rizzo said; Pople was charged because she oversees the facility, he said.

Rizzo said Rocky and a second dog, Fluffy, arrived at Seers Farm following a February 2016 fire at the home of Carl Shepard in Jersey City. The Red Cross placed the two dogs at Seer Farms because Shepard was unable to keep them because the fire destroyed his home, Rizzo said. The placement was supposed to be temporary while Shepard secured a new home, Rizzo said.

Both dogs died in June 2016 while at Seer Farms, Rizzo said.

In an email early Tuesday evening, Pople said the deaths of the two dogs were not the fault of Seer Farms.

"Seer Farms has been able to care for more than 2,000 animals whose families have faced devastating life crises," Pople said. "The animals placed with us often have significant health issues that are a result of the crises that initiated their placement. It is truly unfortunate that these dogs passed away, but their deaths were not caused by Seer Farms."

Rocky's cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure as a result of pulmonary vascular thrombosis; the thrombosis was likely caused by bacterial pneumonia, Rizzo said. "Previous vet reports on Rocky have no indication of an illnesses prior to his placement at Seer Farms," he said.

"From the evidence obtained during the course of our investigation it became clear that Director Pople caused the death of Rocky by failing to provide proper shelter and housed the dog in inhumane conditions," Rizzo said.

In Fluffy's case, there was insufficient evidence to file charges, he said.

The charges are scheduled to be heard Oct. 19 in Jackson municpal court, he said.

Editor's note: This has been updated with comment from the director of Seer Farms.

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