By MICHAEL NUNES
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK – More than 200 charges have been filed against Just Pups owner Vincent LoSacco.
According to a press release from the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA), 267 charges of animal cruelty have been filed through the East Brunswick Municipal Court, with a hearing date set for the morning of March 7.
According to the joint media statement, which was released by Steve Shatkin, president of the NJSPCA, and Frank Rizzo, chief of NJSPCA law enforcement, several animals purchased at the pet store, located off of Route 18, were deemed unfit for sale by veterinarians after being purchased.
“Overall, the charges stem from the lack of adequate infection control procedures, poor and improper veterinary care and the co-mingling of sick animals with new animals just brought into the premises. As a result, animals were unnecessarily exposed to giardia, distemper, upper respiratory infections and other infectious diseases which resulted in the exposure of sick animals to other animals and humans, creating a dangerous condition that threatens the health, safety and welfare of the public,” the press release said, also stating that the charges filed against LoSacco carry fines around $100,000.
Several dogs have died after purchase and three dead dogs were recovered from a freezer within the premises, according to the statement.
LoSacco denies the multitude of charges.
“All the charges are false. These are serious charges of us neglecting our animals,” he said.
Concerning the dogs found dead in the freezer, LoSacco said that pet stores in the state are required to have a freezer in the event of animals passing away.
“Dogs die in pet stores occasionally. It’s not common but [it happens] … If any pet store says they have never had a dog die, they’re lying,” he said.
The news of the charges comes on the heels of the Township Council voting to undergo a public hearing on revoking the license for Just Pups LLC.
“We want to be able to make a stand for what our town should invite in and what out town should have,” said Council President Michael Hughes at the Feb. 22 township council meeting.
The East Brunswick Township Council voted unanimously on Feb. 22 to hold a public hearing, which was set for the evening of March 7.
The beleaguered pet store has been contacted by both the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the Middlesex County and state Departments of Health for possible violations of the Pet Purchase Protection Act, according to East Brunswick Township Attorney Jean Cipriani.
The investigation pushed the township to consider taking away their license, according to township officials.
“According to state statute, the board of health has made a recommendation and pressed to the township to consider revocation of the pet shop license,” Cipriani said.
The facility in East Brunswick was accused by the county Board of Health for having improper record keeping, disinfection facilities, an unapproved isolation room for sick puppies, and one dog that left the store was diagnosed with distemper, according to the owner in an interview conducted prior to the charges being filed. He could not be reached by press time for additional comment.
LoSacco claims that the impositions against him are without merit.
“We don’t believe it was just or plausible to be shut down. They’re violations that could have been given a temporary satisfaction since there was nothing major,” he said, continuing that the store was closed on Feb. 18.
Calls to the Just Pups in East Brunswick went to an answering machine which told callers that the store was temporally closed for interior improvements.
According to LoSacco the improvements would include disinfecting the store, installing mesh flooring, buying new trays and feeders and painting the interior.
“The Board of Health has currently closed Just Pups down so it is no longer in operation pending an inspection by the state and the county,” Cipriani said. “They have been quarantined twice and they have been posted as unsatisfactory by the Board of Health.”
The NJSPCA filed a motion in East Brunswick Municipal Court on Feb. 29 seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to prevent Just Pups to remain open to the public. The motion was granted by East Brunswick Judge Robyn K. Brown.
Just Pups is a chain pet shop with locations also in Paramus, East Hanover and Emerson. Those three locations currently remain open.
On Jan. 5, a press release from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs detailed that the stores four locations were sent executive conference letters. LoSacco met with officials on Feb. 23 to discuss inspection violations, implement a compliance plan and the imposition of civil penalties. According to LoSacco, none of his stores were punished by the department.
“I walked away from conference with zero penalties, fines or violations,” he said.
LoSacco believes that his store will survive the public hearing and plans to attending with his lawyer.
“We’re pretty confident because we have four years of a spotless track record. … We feel there is no grounds to shut us down,” he said, also stating that his lawyer would be writing to the township asking for a rescheduling of the public hearing.
“We want an adjournment so we have time to prepare … and we want to know [the charges]. We’re not satisfied with them saying they’re going to have a public hearing to revoke my license. We want to know based on what. We want to be prepared to rebut what we believe are false accusations and clear up any misconceptions,” LoSacco said, stating his the request would be made to the township this week.
Contact Michael Nunes at [email protected].