16 Neglected Dogs Found Hoarded In Essex County Home, Shelter Says

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — More than a dozen dogs were recently found in a severely neglected condition at a home in Newark in a case of hoarding gone wrong, New Jersey’s largest animal shelter system says.

According to the Associated Humane Societies (AHS), the “severely matted” dogs – 16 in total – are now receiving care at its Tinton Falls facility. The dogs will be available for adoption once medically cleared, but were not available as of Wednesday.

The nonprofit – which also runs a large animal shelter in Newark – shared some background about the case on a donation page:

“When AHS got the call of an incoming hoarding case with 16 dogs in need of extreme care, we flew into action. What we saw when they arrived was nothing short of heart breaking. The dogs were worse than imaginable, with signs of what appeared to be months if not years of neglect. Transported to AHS Tinton Falls, one by one the team began their assessment. Their owner reportedly moved out the month prior and neighbors had stepped up doing what they could to help. The condition they were found in suggests neglect far longer than a single month. The care the dogs require is overwhelming, sedated grooms are needed for many, in addition to veterinary assessments, vaccinations and more.”

Some of the dogs are just months old and are now facing the long road ahead of healing and adjusting to a new life, staff said.

“The condition these dogs arrived in is heartbreaking, but they are finally safe and surrounded by people who are committed to giving them the care and compassion they deserve,” said Danielle Mania, COO of Associated Humane Societies.

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