BRICK TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Brick Township has gained an unfortunate reputation as a hub for animal cruelty along the Jersey Shore, with two major cases highlighting extreme animal hoarding and neglect in the area.
Last Wednesday, Jeffrey Finlay, 56, of Brick Township, was indicted by an Ocean County grand jury on 149 counts of animal cruelty in connection with an incident that took place in May 2023. According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Finlay contacted Brick Township police on May 4, requesting help in removing an excessive number of animals from his Mantoloking Road residence. Officers discovered 157 cats and three dogs living in squalid conditions.
Over the course of 24 hours, all of the animals were removed and taken to local animal facilities for treatment. A subsequent veterinary report from the Ocean County Health Department revealed that 25 cats had to be euthanized, and four others suffered serious injuries due to neglect.
Finlay was initially charged with failure to provide care for the animals but was later charged with animal cruelty after the report’s findings.
Another high-profile case in the township involved two women, Michele Nycz, 60, and Aimee Lonczak, 51, who were sentenced last week to 364 days in Ocean County Jail after pleading guilty to animal cruelty and child neglect.
The charges stemmed from a December 2022 incident in which police responded to complaints about a possible puppy mill at a residence on Arrowhead Park Drive. Inside the home, officers discovered over 129 dogs and 43 cats living in unsanitary conditions, with many animals confined to stacked crates.
Authorities had to request Hazmat assistance due to the condition of the home. Two deceased dogs were also found on the property. Nycz and Lonczak were arrested at the scene and later sentenced to probation, a lifetime ban on animal ownership, and community service.
