Just Pups Hearing Postponed Until March 28

East Brunswick, NJ - Update: 1:50 p.m.: An appeals court judge agreed to postpone a hotly anticipated public hearing Monday night that would decide the fate of Just Pups, an East Brunswick pet store hit with hundreds of animal cruelty charges from the state.

The new date for the public hearing is now Monday evening, March 28, East Brunswick Township administrator Jim White told Patch. Just Pups owner Vincent LoSacco asked the judge for more time to prepare his defense as the township Council debates whether or not to renew the license for the store. LoSacco told Patch he plans to be at the March 28 meeting to defend himself.

The NJSPCA shut down the store when they issued the violations, and LoSacco told the judge he'll keep his store closed until the March 28 hearing.

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The owner of Just Pups pet store, Vincent LoSacco, facing 267 animal cruelty charges from the state, is trying to postpone a public hearing Monday where East Brunswick council members have been asked to discuss whether or not to renew his business license.

LoSacco's attorney will make his case Monday at 11 a.m. in front of an appellate judge to postpone tonight's hearing.

The Middlesex County Health Dept., which is responsible for health inspections of all East Brunswick businesses, requested the public hearing, East Brunswick Township administrator Jim White said.

Only the township, not the health department, can approve or deny a license, White said. After the NJSPCA filed the animal cruelty charges (which included three dead dogs being kept in a freezer in the back of the store), the health dept. asked the Council to hold a special hearing on the fate of LoSacco's license. The hearing is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, March 7 in the courtroom of the Municipal Building, One Civic Center Drive, East Brunswick. The township announced the hearing to the public.

But LoSacco told Patch Monday that he and his attorney were notified of the public hearing too late, and they need more time to prepare.

"I'm being railroaded," LoSacco said. "We want time to properly defend ourselves, so all we're asking for today is a postponement of the hearing."

LoSacco said he was first notified of tonight's hearing on Feb. 24 or 25, and his attorney, Anthony Arturi, immediately asked the township for an adjournment. East Brunswick refused, LoSacco said, and so his attorney filed a motion asking for more time. An appeals court judge will decide on that motion at 11 a.m. Monday.

"I basically do not know what the county health department will discuss tonight," LoSacco said. "All I'm asking for is more time to defend myself. We want to know on what basis they're going to take the license."

All East Brunswick businesses must have their licenses renewed yearly.

It is unclear at this time if tonight's meeting — should it proceed — will allow for a public forum, the township administrator said. White said he will let Patch know after the judge's decision. If Monday night's hearing happens, LoSacco said he and his attorney will "definitely" be there. He is represented by Arturi, D'Argenio, Guaglardi & Meliti, LLP. Stay tuned to Patch for more news on this developing story!

Photos: Stock photo of puppies/Just Pups on Rt. 18 North in East Brunswick