52 Pets With Teeth, Hair, Skin Issues Rescued In Union County

ELIZABETH, NJ — In two horrifying cases, more than 50 dogs and cats were rescued from "unsafe and unsanitary living conditions" in Union County last month, Union County Prosecutor’s Office Investigations Supervisor John Esmerado announced Wednesday.

On July 24, an Elizabeth Health Department inspector reported two dogs were being kept in unsanitary conditions inside crates at a home on the 200 block of Fulton Street in Elizabeth, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Cronin and Prosecutor’s Office Detective Vito Colacitti, the newly assigned leaders of the humane animal treatment subsection of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Unit.

A total of 13 dogs were rescued from the home, several suffering from serious skin problems, hair loss, and matting so severe that several of the animals’ limbs were rendered useless, Cronin said.

The two dogs left outdoors in the crates also were missing several teeth, and required dozens more to be removed, according to the report.

The rescued dogs were groomed and received medical treatment and temporary shelter from Cranford-based Traveling Paws Animal Rescue, Puppy Love Pet Rescue in Roselle Park, and St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison.

Rosa Montero, owner of the property on Fulton Street, has been charged with three counts of third-degree failure to provide necessary care to an animal, causing it serious bodily injury, six counts of fourth-degree failure to provide necessary care to an animal, and four counts of animal neglect, a disorderly persons offense.

Montero could face three to five years in state prison on the third-degree crimes and probation to 18 months in prison for the fourth-degree crimes.

Authorities received more tips through social media that resulted in the rescue of a total of 39 dogs and a similar number of cats from a home on the 600 block of Chetwood Street in Elizabeth on Friday, Aug. 17, according to the report.

The animals ranged in age from newborns to seniors and had never received any veterinary services during the course of their lives. They were placed into the care of Traveling Paws, St. Hubert’s, All Star Pet Rescue in Linden, Second Chance Pet Adoption League in Oak Ridge, Lost Paws Animal Rescue in Pittstown, and Feline Rescue of Staten Island.

Charges remain pending in the second case.

Anyone with information about these matters or similar incidents is urged to contact Cronin at 908-527-4169 or Colacitti at 908-527-4387.

This is the third case in the past three months of a large number of animals being rescued from inhumane conditions in Union County. In June more than 40 dogs were found in severely inhumane living conditions in Roselle. (See Related: Investigators In Hazmat Suits Rescue 40 Dogs From Roselle Home)

(Images via Union County Prosecutor's Office)

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