Cat Dies After Attack By Two Pit Bulls: Cops

The owners of two pit bulls have been charged in the death of an 11-year-old cat named "Bow Tie," after their dogs jumped a fence and attacked the cat, Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

Officer Noah Schaffer and Officer Michael Eden responded to Joffre Road in Forked River at 8:18 a.m. on March 25 on a report of an animal attack, the chief said.

The victim reported that her neighbors’ dogs jumped a fence and entered her yard where they attacked her 11-year-old cat “Bow Tie.” The dogs, a two-year-old brown pit-bull mix named "Bo" and a one-year-old, white and brown pit bull named "Zoe" belong to Joffre Road residents Jillian K. Basista and Thaddeus J. Byckiewicz, he said.

Bow Tie died on the way to a veterinarian's office. Township Animal Control Officer Michael San Juan responded to the scene and assisted in the investigation. The dogs were ordered to be quarantined at their home. Basista and Byckiewicz were both charged with dog running at large and failing to license a dog, Paprota said.