Warrant Issued In Connection With Dog Left In Cage To Drown

HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Monmouth County Prosecutor's office announced late Friday afternoon that a warrant has been issued for this man in connection with a pit bull puppy left to drown in a cage in the Shrewsbury River earlier this week.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Aaron D. Davis, 36, of Long Branch in connection with the case of "River," the dog who was left in a cage in Highlands.

Anyone who has any information on the whereabouts of Aaron Davis or that may have witnessed anything, please notify the Monmouth County SPCA Animal Cruelty Hot Line 877-898-7297 or alternatively, the Highlands Police Department at 732-872-1158.

It's been five days now since River, the pit bull puppy, was found by Highlands resident Jennifer Vaz, 32. The young woman was out for a walk Monday morning at 6 a.m. with her Boxer, Molly, when she and Molly heard something whimpering near a rocky jetty. Someone had put the pit bull puppy on a small sandy beach, trapped in a cage, deliberately left there to drown as the tide rose. The water was up to his paws when Vaz found him.

"He was shivering and the water was rising," she told Patch earlier this week. "It would have been a slow death."

The pit bull puppy is in good health and is being fostered by Vaz.

Past Patch reporting:
Highlands Woman Recalls Finding Puppy Left In Cage To Die
Dog In A Cage Trapped On Beach As Tide Rose In Highlands

Photo released by Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office