NJ Trio Who Dumped 34 Dogs On The Side Of The Road Face Animal Cruelty Charges, Police Say

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — Three people have been arrested following an investigation into a series of abandoned dogs throughout Sussex County this week, according to officials.

Joshua Ciemniecki, 19; Robert Ciemniecki, 74; and Kaila McNeill, 30, all of Phillipsburg, are facing animal abuse charges for their roles in abandoning dozens of dogs on the side of the road, authorities said.

On Monday night, state police from Troop "B" Sussex Station responded to "multiple reports of abandoned dogs" on County Route 619 in Stillwater, Meadows Road in Lafayette Township, and Clark Road in Wantage Township, Sussex County.

A total of 34 animals, all small dog breeds, had been dumped across the three locations, all left by the road in open crates without any food or water, police say.

Thanks to help from the public, 32 of the dogs were rescued and taken to various animal shelters, but two of the abandoned dogs were found dead, according to officials.

The trio was arrested on Wednesday following an investigation. Joshua Ciemniecki and McNeill were each charged with two counts of third-degree animal cruelty and three counts of fourth-degree animal cruelty. They were taken to Morris County Jail to await court proceedings.

Robert Ciemniecki was charged with one count of animal cruelty and released pending a court hearing.