Petition Demands New Plainfield Animal Control Services After Abuse Charges

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A petition with more than 400 signatures is demanding changes in Plainfield after the owner of a shelter the City was using for Animal Control Services was arrested on animal neglect charges and 37 dogs were seized in Mahwah.

Launched on Wednesday, the petition is "demanding that the City of Plainfield immediately contract with a safe, reputable animal control services provider while it collaborates with the Plainfield Area Humane Society to ensure that there is a long term, sustainable plan in place to house, feed, and find homes for animals in need. Further, demand that the City act against this man and his business for abusing our animals."

The petition was prompted after Richard DuBarton III was charged Feb. 22 three days after a dog was found barely alive in a plastic bag in a dumpster that appeared to be malnourished and near death at Aranwood Kennels in Mahwah which is owned and operated by Dubarton, according to police. Read More: Plainfield Animal Control Officer Arrested, 37 Dogs Rescued

Mahwah Police ended up removing 37 more dogs.

DuBarton is not the animal control officer for Mahwah. However, he trains K9s at the business — Aranwood Kennel in Mahwah. Plainfield had a contract for $156,000 for the year with Aranwood Kennels in Mahwah for animal control services.

Dubarton was charged with exposure of animal to adverse conditions, failure to provide necessary care to an animal, failure to provide sanitary environment for an animal, failure to provide access to water to an animal, failure to provide medical care to animal resulting in serious bodily injury.

"We have been reacting to the situation as quickly as possible as we can, as this developed overnight," Jazz Clayton-Hunt Chief of Staff and Director of Communications and Technology said to Patch.

Clayton-Hunt said the City is working with the state and Unon County find an alternative shelter.

In the interim, all Plainfield animals have been moved to alternate places temporarily and are being safely boarded at the moment, said Clayton-Hunt.

— Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Richard DuBarton III as the City's Animal Control Officer when in fact he owns the shelter Plainfield has a contract with.

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