BRICK, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A man admitted to mistreating over 150 cats kept in his New Jersey home, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced Tuesday.
Jeffrey Finlay, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty on Monday, prosecutors said.
On May 4, 2023, Finlay requested police respond to his residence on Mantoloking Road in Brick for assistance with removing an excessive number of animals.
Responding officers discovered approximately 157 cats and three dogs living at the residence.
Over the course of 24 hours, the animals were removed from the residence and transferred for treatment and evaluation to the Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities.
Finlay was initially charged with failure to provide care for a living animal or creature.
On June 5, 2023, the Ocean County officials received the final veterinary reports from the health department regarding the animals that were removed from the residence.
According to the report, 68 cats had suffered serious bodily injury or had to be euthanized as a result of Finlay’s failure to provide necessary care for them.
Based upon the report’s findings, Finlay was charged on June 11, 2023 with animal cruelty, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Finlay surrendered himself to Brick Township Police Headquarters on June 14, 2023.
He is set to be sentenced on April 25, and faces 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation, in addition to a lifetime ban on animal ownership and community service not involving animals.