By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
HOWELL – The elderly owner of 12 dogs and two horses that were rescued by the Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA) has been charged with animal cruelty.
Officials with the MCSPCA reported that late on Sept. 28, personnel from its Law Enforcement Division seized 12 dogs and two horses from a residence on Fort Plains Road in Howell.
On Sept. 30, MCSPCA Executive Director Ross Licitra, who is also the chief of Humane Law Enforcement at the agency, said Andree Duchateau, 82, has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.
MCSPCA Humane Police were alerted to the situation by animal control officers who had responded to investigate a report of a horse running loose in the area of Fort Plains Road.
The animal control officers were from the Associated Humane Society, which has a contract with Howell for animal control services, according to a press release from the MCSPCA.
The animal control officers recovered the stray horse and determined it had escaped from a penned area at a residence on Fort Plains Road, according to Licitra.
The animal control officers were able to determine where the horse had escaped from and when they returned the horse to its home, they discovered that the horse, plus one more horse and 12 dogs that were living at the rear of the property were all living in deplorable conditions, according to the press release.
When MCSPCA officers arrived at the home and investigated the situation, they discovered the dogs were in very poor condition and had conditions including severe matting, overgrown nails, skin and ear infections and visible tumors, and were covered in fleas, according to the press release.
Licitra said the situation was one of “absolute filth and garbage” and he described the property as “overgrown.” He said there were makeshift outdoor runs and holes in the structure that allowed the dogs access to the runs.
Licitra said trees were growing through the structure and the dogs were exposed to the elements. He said Duchateau was feeding the animals.
With the assistance of the Howell Police Department and Howell code enforcement officers, the MCSPCA officers seized the two horses and 12 dogs, according to the press release. The horses were transported to a local farm to be held pending further developments. The dogs were taken to the MCSPCA facility in Eatontown.
Officials said Duchateau, who lives at the Fort Plains Road property, agreed to surrender the dogs to the MCSPCA.
Immediately following the rescue effort, the MCSPCA medical staff began to vaccinate, deworm, apply flea/tick preventative and microchip the dogs in preparation for further medical and behavioral assessment, according to the press release.
The MCSPCA said it is in need of monetary donations to provide medical treatment, food, supplies and care to the dogs while they await placement. All donations can be made online at www.monmouthcountyspca.org, through the mail at MCSPCA, Howell Case, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724, or by calling 732-440-1556.