Judge Shoots Down Emerson's Attempt To Shut Down Just Pups Store: Report

Emerson's attempt to immediately shut down the controversial Just Pups was denied Friday by a Superior Court judge this week, The Record reported.

Owner Vincent LoSacco's license to operate the Emerson store expired June 30. He applied to renew the license, but it has not been issued because "politicians won't let" the borough clerk issue it, said Anthony Arturi, the attorney representing the business.

Judge Lisa Perez Friscia said that it is up to the borough whether or not a license is issued, according to the report.

Arturi filed a complaint Wednesday against Emerson and Jane Dietsche, the borough clerk, to compel the borough to issue a new license; John Stone, the attorney representing Emerson, said six health violations were issued against the store recently, the report said.

LoSacco has been receiving summonses since July 1 for operating a kennel without a license, The Record reported, but that ordinance doesn't apply to Just Pups, Arturi said, because Emerson's definition of a kennel is a business that harbors or maintains dogs 6 months old or older. Just Pups doesn't sell dogs older than 6 months.

LoSacco and Just Pups have been at the center of controversy since police found 67 puppies smelling of urine and feces in a van in near-freezing temperatures outside the Just Pups Paramus store in April.

LoSacco and his brother were charged with 134 counts of cruelty to animals after the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office investigated the matter.

Related: Dogs Found In Freezing Van Outside Paramus Puppy Store

LoSacco closed down the Paramus store and has been moving the dogs there to the Emerson store. He used to run a Just Pups store in East Brunswick, but borough revoked that store's license after three dead dogs were found in a freezer there.

Emerson became the first municipality in the county to pass an ordinance banning the sale of puppies bred at mills, but LoSacco has said such pieces of legislation do not apply to him since he does not own or operate puppy mills. Wyckoff recently passed a similar ordinance.

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