SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Officials said Wednesday that over 130 animals found living in filthy, crammed cages in New Jersey were rescued earlier this week.According to the Union County prosecutor’s, they shut down an illegal puppy mill with dogs living in unsanitary conditions and in small cages with no outdoor activity inside a private home in Scotch Plains.
"This week, investigators from UCPO & @ScotchPlainsPD rescued 132 cats & dogs from a Scotch Plains puppy mill operation," The Union County Prosecutor’s Office tweeted. "Thanks to 13 local shelters & rescues, all recovered animals are receiving the care they need and will join their fur-ever families soon."
Investigators recovered a total of 132 animals, ranging in age from newborns to fully grown, breeding-age adults, including approximately two dozen felines, with the remainder being various breeds of dogs. The total also included 71 Chihuahuas, 18 Golden Retrievers, 17 Pomeranians, and 3 Pekingese."The loudest ones, about 100 of them, were in the basement, and they had soundproofed the basement with mattresses," said Lyndsay Ruotolo, acting Union County prosecutor.
Ten fourth-degree criminal charges and four disorderly persons offenses have been filed against 60-year-old Dominick Ciabattari.
All of the charges are related to failure to properly care for the animals, some of which were pregnant, along with others that have been diagnosed with severe dental injuries, severe dehydration, infection, ocular discharge, and other conditions, the proscutor's office said in a statement.
Ciabiattari will face additional charges once veterinary records are received."We were lucky that a member of the community revealed what was going on to us," Ruotolo said.
Anyone interested in adopting any of the pets are invited to contact any of the 13 shelters that took in the animals.
The investigation is the single largest seizure of at-risk animals in Union County since animal cruelty prevention protocols were increased in 2018.