A New Jersey woman faces a slew of animal cruelty charges after 61 dogs were rescued from her home, where they lived in “absolute squalor,” according to a report.
“This is something we cannot tolerate and never will tolerate,” Monmouth County SPCA executive director Ross Licitra said, NJ.com reported. “This will absolutely go criminal.”
Marlene Sandford, 66, of Middletown, could face fines and six months behind bars if she is convicted, according to the news outlet, which cited state statutes.
A relative called the SPCA hotline to report Sandford, who was previously charged in 2009 with 81 counts of animal cruelty for hoarding more than 100 dogs, the outlet reported.
Officers found the small dogs, including shih tzus and collie mixes, many of which were covered in urine. They had been forced to drink out of dirty bowls and were kept in feces-ridden cages, Licitra said.
Several pregnant dogs and newborn puppies also were saved, he said, adding that SPCA workers spent hours working in protective gear to remove the dogs and clear the shocking scene.
“We were walking into a world of unimaginable disgust,” Licitra said. “(The dogs) are a mess. They’ve been living in absolute squalor like you can’t imagine. They are completely filthy. It’s going to take a while for them to recover.”
He said he suspects a puppy mill was operated out of the home, though Sandford denied breeding the dogs to sell them, NJ.com reported.
The dogs are not yet up for adoption, but anyone interested may check the SPCA’s website at monmouthcountyspca.org for updates.
“Any and all help is needed. It’s going to take an enormous amount of money and effort to get these dogs right,” Licitra said.
“We’re looking for donations, we’re looking for professional groomers that would be willing to come to the shelter and offer their time. Every one of them needs to be groomed and cleaned. They’re beyond comprehension.”