550 Charges Of Animal Cruelty Filed Against Howell Hoarding Couple

A Howell Township husband and wife are facing more than 550 counts of animal cruelty after rescuers found 276 dogs in their home on June 3, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Charlene and Joseph Handrik, who live on Bennett Road, were charged by the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with 276 counts of inflicting unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal or creature by providing inhuman conditions and 276 counts of animal cruelty for failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care for the dogs.

All of the charges are disorderly persons offenses, officials said.

“After extensive discussions between the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and a review of the animal cruelty statute, the decision was made to charge the Handriks with disorderly persons animal cruelty charges as opposed to indictable animal cruelty charges,” said Ross Licitra, interim president, chief executive officer and chief law enforcement officer of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA).

“This decision was due in large part to the miraculous fact that despite living in deplorable conditions and not receiving proper veterinary care, the dogs seized from the residence were in relatively good physical health,” Gramiccioni said.

At first Licitra thought he might be dealing with 20 dogs. After three tries, SPCA officers connected with the homeowners, who allowed officers into the front section of the house.

When the SPCA officers told the owners they would have to surrender the animals, "they were devastated," Licitra said, but they were cooperative.

Rescuers worked for hours to remove the dogs, who were evaluated, microchipped and vaccinated on the spot. By the time they finished, the number of dogs was far higher: 276 dogs.

The crews, dressed in hazmat suits and breathing masks supplied by the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, finally finished retrieving dogs about 8 p.m. The hazmat gear was necessary because while the animals were in relatively decent health, the home reeked of ammonia from the dogs' urine and feces.

"The smell of the ammonia was gagging," Licitra said. "I could only stand there a few minutes," because he wasn't wearing a mask. "They're beautiful dogs, and in fairly good condition despite the conditions they were living in. Ninety-five percent have never seen a vet. They were born and never left that house."