Just Pups In East Hanover Investigated For Illegally Importing Dogs: Police Report

EAST HANOVER, NJ — Police were called to the Just Pups location in East Hanover earlier this month after the owner allegedly transported puppies across state lines illegally.

Vincent "Vin" LoSacco, owner of Just Pups, allegedly transported 34 dogs from Texas to New Jersey without proper medical paperwork, according to a police report.

The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had received a tip that LoSacco was transporting up to 100 dogs across state lines without medical clearance, prompting the Jan. 2 investigation.

Sgt. Frank Rizzo of the NJSPCA saw LoSacco taking the uncleared dogs from the van into the store, a health code violation.

Rizzo reported seeing 34 dogs, less than the 100 the tipster said.

All dogs were returned to the van, and Losacco said he would take the dogs to his personal veterinarian in Bergen County for medical clearance. It was unclear if he did.

East Hanover Director of Health, Carlo Dilizia, was also at the Just Pups store that night. He instructed Losacco to clean all in-store cages that held the transported dogs, 11 in total, according to the police report.

LoSacco has made headlines before for conditions in his pet stores. Three dead dogs were found in the freezer of the East Brunswick Just Pups last February, and the store was shut down by the town.

Outside of the Paramus Just Pups location, 50 puppies were found freezing in the trunk of a van last April. The Paramus Health Department closed that store pending an investigation, and LoSacco did not attempt to renew the license.

East Hanover is the only remaining Just Pups location in New Jersey (a fourth location in Emerson closed last July).

Patch has reached out to NJSPCA and East Hanover Board of Health for comment about this latest incident.

Read More: Year In Review: The Just Pups Case

Pictured: Some of the puppies found in the van outside of the Paramus location, courtesy of the Paramus Police Department.