South Jersey Woman Left 4 Dogs In 9-Degree Cold, 1 Died: Police

HAMILTON, N.J. — Police charged a woman with animal cruelty after she left four dogs out in the cold, including one 9-year-old dog who died, police announced Wednesday.

The four dogs were found outside the home of Kimberlynn Jurkowski, of Northfield, on March 6, police said. AccuWeather says it was a low of 9 degrees that day.

The deceased dog died of congestive heart failure, according to the veterinarian pathologist. Initial attempts from police to contact the homeowners were unsuccessful, officials said.

The dog died sometime before officials got to her home, police said. Shore Animal Control took possession of the three living animals from the property on 1261 Scranton Ave.

Jurkowski was charged with four counts of animal cruelty and four counts of abandoning a domesticated animal, police said.

Police records obtained by Reformers-Advocates for Animal Shelter Change in NJ show police visited the address on Feb. 16, twice on Feb. 18 and Feb. 20, March 1, March 6 and March 7.

During one visit, an officer saw the dogs outside while it was snowing but left them there after leaving a voicemail on the owner's phone, according to police records.

Reformers - Advocates for Animal Shelter Change in NJ questioned why police didn't react quicker to save the animals, particularly the dog who died:

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