NEPTUNE, NJ – Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago is urging the public to come forward with any information regarding the abandonment of a severely emaciated puppy in Neptune Township last weekend.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, May 10th, members of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) were called to the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue in Neptune Township on May 7th after a passerby discovered the puppy abandoned on the side of the road. The puppy, a tan female pit bull mix estimated to be 8-10 weeks old, was later named “Matilda” by her caregivers.
Upon arrival at the SPCA shelter, Matilda was found to be suffering from severe dehydration and malnourishment, and was unable to move or stand. A video posted on SPCA social media showed her curled up in a fetal position, with her head shaking. The puppy was quickly taken in for medical care, where she remains in critical condition. However, her caregivers have reported that Matilda has shown small signs of improvement, including socializing with other dogs at the shelter and eating.
Authorities are now seeking the public’s assistance in identifying those responsible for abandoning the puppy. The caller who alerted the SPCA said he found the dog on May 6th, near the intersection of Bangs and Myrtle Avenues, and contacted the SPCA the next day when he realized she was too sick for him to take care of.
“The degree of neglect this defenseless puppy endured to wind up in the state she is currently in is, in a word, unfathomable,” Prosecutor Santiago said in the statement. “We are hopeful that someone who lives in or frequents this area may have some information that would allow us to identify who is responsible, and go about taking the first steps toward bringing them to justice.”
Animal cruelty charges in New Jersey can include third- and fourth-degree criminal offenses, punishable by a maximum of five years in state prison. Anyone with information is urged to contact SPCA investigators at 732-440-1539.