132 Dogs, Cats Rescued From Illegal Puppy Mill In Scotch Plains

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — More than 130 dogs and cats were rescued from an illegal puppy mill being run out of a home in Scotch Plains, authorities said.

This investigation marked the single largest seizure of at-risk animals in Union County since New Jersey revised and strengthened its animal cruelty prevention protocols in January 2018, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Scotch Plains Police Chief Ted Conley jointly announced Wednesday.

A tip to police on Monday reported that the conditions inside Dominick Ciabattari, 60, of Scotch Plains' home on the corner of Terrill Road and Laurie Court were unsafe and unsanitary for humans and animals, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Cronin, who is prosecuting the case.

When Scotch Plains Police went to the home they found and saved a total of 132 animals, ranging in age from newborns to fully grown, breeding-age adults, including about two dozen cats, with the remainder being various breeds of dogs, Ruotolo said.

The total also included 71 Chihuahuas, 18 Golden Retrievers, 17 Pomeranians, and 3 Pekingese, Ruotolo said.

The dogs and cats were kept in unsanitary conditions, many locked in cages around the clock in a loud, stressful environment, with no outdoor activity. There was no indiciaton of proper vetting or veterinary care or records, and evidence was recovered indicating that unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine was taking place on site, Ruotolo said.

Ciabattari was charged with 10 fourth-degree criminal charges and four disorderly persons offenses for failing to properly care for the animals, some of which were pregnant, along with others that have been diagnosed with severe dental injuries, severe dehydration, infection, ocular discharge, and other conditions, Ruotolo said.

Additional charges are expected and specific information about the charges and court proceedings will be released as it becomes available, once veterinary records are received.

"We are so grateful for our investigative partners in the Scotch Plains Police Department, under the direction of Chief Conley, the compassionate and dedicated members of our Animal Cruelty Task Force who joined us at the scene, and the 13 animal shelters and rescue organizations that took in the recovered pets, ensuring that they received access to proper care," said Ruotolo.

All of the animals were sent to more than a dozen local shelters. Anyone interested in adopting any of the pets are invited to contact the shelter nearest to them:

• Traveling Paws (Cranford)
• Jersey Pits Rescue (Garwood)
• All Star Pet Rescue (Linden)
• Brendan’s Meadows Rescue (Mountainside): 908-272-8555
• Plainfield Area Humane Society (Plainfield): 908-754-0300
• Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption (Scotch Plains)
• Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue (Aberdeen): 732-765-8378
• A Pathway to Hope (Hawthorne)
• St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center (Madison)
• Montclair Township Animal Shelter (Montclair): 973-744-8600
• Second Chance Pet Adoption League (Oak Ridge): 973-208-1054
• Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (Oakland): 201-337-5180
• Rescue Ridge (Spring Lake): 732-546-8805

"The Humane Society of the United States commends the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Scotch Plains Police Department for their recent work responding to a puppy mill cruelty situation in the county. Their efficient and compassionate response ensured that 130 animals were brought to safety thanks to collaboration with a network of nearly a dozen animal shelters, which will help rehabilitate and rehome the animals," said Brian R. Hackett, Director of State Affairs for the New Jersey chapter of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and member of the Union County Animal Cruelty Task Force. "Through their exemplary efforts, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office has established itself as a role model for our state, in how to properly enforce our state’s strong anti-cruelty laws. Large-scale commercial breeding operations, such as the one in Scotch Plains, pose myriad problems for animals, consumers, and our communities. Puppy mills generate pain and suffering for both consumers and animals alike in New Jersey, and around our nation."

Each police department throughout Union County has an assigned humane law enforcement officer, but any police officer can respond to reports of animal cruelty.

If you suspect that an incident or pattern of animal cruelty has taken place or is taking place, contact your local police department and relay as many details as you can, including the location, date, and time, and a description of the people and animals involved.

If you have information specific to this ongoing investigation, contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Vito Colacitti at 908-527-4723 or Detective Alex Lopez at 908-527-4933.
For more information about New Jersey’s animal cruelty laws and how they are applied click here.

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