Dozens Of Pets Rescued From Hoarding, Brought To Lacey Shelter

LACEY, NJ — Associated Humane Societies found dozens of animals hoarded in two Hillside homes. More than a dozen cats, 17 small dogs and 28 parakeet-type birds languished under the conditions.

The animals have been rescued, and some will have already made their way to the Popcorn Park shelter.

The AHS Newark facility answered the call for help after the animals' owner died. The pets were spread throughout two homes, and the owner's children visited afterward and discovered them.

The birds lived in cramped, feces-covered cages with no food or clean water. Many of the cats roamed in piles of garbage, while others were stuck in filthy cages, AHS said. The small dogs cowered together, covered in urine and feces and starving.

AHS brought the animals back to their Newark facility, where they were groomed by their groomer, Sandy. The cats are still coming in for medical treatment and cleaning. The birds have been transferred to clean cages and brought to Popcorn Park to begin their recovery.

AHS will also send the dogs and cats to their Popcorn Park and Tinton Falls facilities. They'll be put up for adoption when they're ready.

In the meantime, AHS seeks donations to help them continue taking care of animals. Click here to donate.

"At a time when we, as a non-profit, are already struggling due to the current pandemic situation, taking in these large-scale hoarding cases puts a bit of a strain on us financially," AHS said.

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