Freehold Man Admits Animal Cruelty, Which Led To Death Of 4 Pups

FREEHOLD, NJ - A Freehold man pleaded guilty this week to charges of animal cruelty related to the deaths of four German Shepard puppies at a Howell residence in May, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Daniel McDonald, 26, pleaded guilty to four counts of third degree animal cruelty in Monmouth County Superior Court on Thursday. He also pleaded guilty to third degree receiving stolen property after admitting he was in possession of a stolen front end loader.

McDonald took full responsibility during his plea for not getting the puppies the proper care prior to their deaths, according to the prosecutor's office.

Previous coverage: Pair Charged With Animal Cruelty in Howell, Woman Still At-Large

In May 2020, investigators found the remains of two German Shepherd puppies in a fire pit on a Howell property where McDonald was temporarily residing. The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Law Enforcement Division and the Howell Township Police Department conducted a subsequent investigation, which led to the discovery of two more deceased pups buried on the property.

Authorities later revealed that the animals were stolen from a Somerset County farm (where McDonald was previously lodging) on or around May 12, when the puppies were only three weeks old. The puppies were sick, in distress and struggling to breathe prior to their deaths in Howell. A post-mortem test also revealed that the puppies had parasites and were extremely malnourished with “no indications of recent nutritional ingestion,” according to the county prosecutor.

The Freehold man is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 8, 2021.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, the sentencing recommendation is five years in state prison (concurrent to pending charges in Middlesex and Bergen counties). He is also to complete community service and comply with an order to never own or reside with animals.

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