Christopher Lance Vaccaro, 45, of Millstone, is expected to appear before a judge at 4:30 p.m. March 11 at the Millstone Municipal Court.
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
MILLSTONE — A township man who has been charged with animal cruelty after nearly 200 animals were discovered living in “deplorable” conditions on his farm last week will soon face a municipal court judge.
Christopher Lance Vaccaro, 45, of Millstone, is expected to appear before a judge at 4:30 p.m. March 11 at the Millstone Municipal Court.
Mr. Vaccaro is charged with five counts of failure to provide proper care, five counts of failure to provide clean fresh water, failure to provide proper care for the full sized horse and for not removing a dead animal carcass within 24 hours, according to authorities.
Victor “Buddy” Amato, chief law enforcement officer for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to 153 Stillhouse Road on Feb. 24 night following reports of dead and dying animals in addition to other animals living under poor conditions.
”The investigator found approximately 100 goats, 80 sheep, six miniature donkeys, a mini horse, a full-sized horse, several chickens, turkeys, peacocks, dogs and cats living in less the acceptable conditions,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charles Webster in a press release.
The investigator also discovered several carcasses while walking the property of what appeared to be sheep, goat and a deer all of which were lying among the living animals on the property.
”Upon further investigation, it was found that several of the animals most likely died as a result of this winter’s extreme cold weather,” Mr. Webster said in the release. “At the time of this investigation most of the animals were either without fresh water or the water buckets were frozen solid.”
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture was notified and responded to the residence.
After the department’s investigation was complete, the case was turned over to the MCSPCA for law enforcement intervention.
In the days after charges were announced, the MCSPCA said it is taking advantage of the generous outpouring and generosity of neighbors and animal rescue organizations to help relocate animals found on the farm.
”We have received calls from as far as Utah, and dozens of farms and local businesses have all expressed their desire and willingness to help relocate and house these animals,” Mr. Amato said.
MCSPCA Deputy Chief Larry Donato and Agent Debra Nagel, of the MCSPCA Law Enforcement Division, who originally responded to the site, are coordinating the effort with the farm owners to relocate the large number of goats and sheep that remain at the site.
”The transportation and site relocations of all these animals is a huge task,” Mr. Amato acknowledged.
The MCSPCA also announced that food donations, such as hay and grain, have been made by local businesses and neighboring farms.

