Windows Blacked Out by Flies in Keyport Home, Dogs Covered in Fleas, Feces

Keyport, NJ - Here is an update on the removal of 17 dogs and puppies from "deplorable" conditions in a Keyport home over the weekend:

Late Saturday night the Keyport police responded to a noise complaint due to barking dogs in the area. When police arrived, they found the windows of the home were blacked out with flies and debris; there were several dogs running in the yard and there was a strong odor emanating from the home. Upon entry the home was filled with urine-soaked garbage, fecal matter and debris from wall to wall. The dogs were covered with debris, fleas, feces and flea dirt. Pictured are some of the dogs removed from the home.

“This flea infestation is the worst I have ever seen. We couldn’t tell that the white dogs were actually white," said MCSPCA Medical Director Dr. Nicole Feddersen.

The conditions found in the home were “the worst I’ve seen in my twenty five years of law enforcement," said Lieutenant Tom Nuccio, MCSPCA law enforcement officer,

The house is now condemned by the State of New Jersey.

All dogs have had physical examinations and heartworm tests, been dewormed, vaccinated and microchipped. They are all anemic from both internal and external parasites, which will delay spay and neuter surgery. Dr. Feddersen notes that although the dogs were scared and antisocial upon arrival at the shelter, after a 24 hour period and a bath, they are turning around nicely.

“They are eating well and getting lots of TLC,” she said, ”Overall, I find them to be sweet and with time, will be terrific companions.” Adoptions for these dogs may begin after surgery, within 7 to 14 days. In an unrelated incident, 36 cats and kittens were removed from a Colts Neck home Monday night, but the owner was not charged with animal cruelty. Conditions inside the home were clean, the SPCA said, and the cats were both indoor and feral.