Just Pups Put In Quarantine By East Hanover Board Of Health

EAST HANOVER, NJ — The last store in the Just Pups chain has been placed in quarantine by the East Hanover Board of Health, after it said 68 puppies were illegally imported without proper veterinarian checks.

On Feb. 3, the store was placed in quarantine by the East Hanover Board of Health, the result of an investigation that began in January. Since the quarantine was put into place, East Hanover Police have maintained a presence at the store.

There was "sufficient reason" to suspect some dogs had diseases following the death of three dogs, Health Director Carlo DiLizia wrote in the quarantine notice. Another two "had signs of communicable disease while being housed in general population," he said, something the owner disputes.

The notice was provided to Patch by a member of the LoSacco family.

Owner Vin LoSacco was first investigated by East Hanover Police last month for allegedly bringing a number of dogs into New Jersey from Texas without the proper paperwork.

In a follow-up visit by the Board Of Health, the proper veterinarian paperwork had still not been acquired, and three dogs had died as a result, leading to the quarantine, DiLizia wrote.

LoSacco, however, said in a statement the three dogs that died did not have any communicable diseases; instead, they died from fading puppy syndrome.

In a statement taped to the store's door and sent exclusively to Patch, LoSacco said he followed all applicable laws and said the store being closed "is nothing short of tyranny [...]."

LoSacco went so far as to write, "Is this East Hanover New Jersey of the United States of America or Cuba?"

The owner said the dogs were examined on Feb. 4 and were given a clean bill of health, but the store remains closed.

DiLizia did not respond to Patch's multiple requests for comment.

In an email to Patch, Police Capt. Jack Ambrose said the police presence was a result of the ongoing investigation.

"The East Hanover Police Department is providing security at the business to ensure the health and safety of the animals and the public. As the investigation unfolds, more information will be released," Ambrose wrote.

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 that store's license.

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

Read More: Year In Review: The Just Pups Case

You can read the full quarantine notice here:

You can read LoSacco's full statement here:

Image: Quarantine notice by Tracie Koehnlein