New Jersey: Sixty dogs and cats rescued from 'deplorable' animal hoarders house - plus another eleven dead pets; police searching for Juan Perez

NEW JERSEY -- More than sixty cats and dogs have been rescued from a New Jersey animal hoarder's home where they were living in filthy conditions.

Fifty live animals, including young puppies and kittens, were removed from the home on Hillcrest Place, in North Bergen, which was covered in urine and feces.

 

 

The bodies of eleven dead cats and a dead dog were also recovered from the squalid property.

'The house is deplorable,' animal cruelty investigator Geoffrey Santini told ABC 7. 'There's urine and feces everywhere, the beds were covered with...the animals took over the house.

'So that's why it's a hoarding case. There might be some mental illness. But the most important thing is we're worrying about the animals' welfare and the humane treatment of them, get them out of here to no-kill shelters.'

Most of the animals looked like they had not been fed or even given any water recently. The tenant was nowhere to be found.

Authorities were alerted to the case by neighbors who reported a terrible smell coming from the home and the sound of barking.

Carol Delforno told NBC New York he had become increasingly concerned about the animals since last summer.

'When they all start barking at once, it was chilling,' she said. 'The stench has just been progressively getting worse.'

Officials say 32 dogs, 17 puppies - many of them Labradors - two cats and three kittens were taken out alive.

They have all been placed with the Bergen County Protect and Rescue, in Cliffside Park, where they will most likely be put up for adoption.

 

The dead cats and dogs were taken outside in trash bags.

Despite the horrific living conditions, rescue workers said that the surviving creatures were in surprisingly good condition.

Animal control had finally raided the house on Wednesday after the tenant allegedly failed to appear in court on a series of summonses.

A warrant has now been issued for homeowner Juan Perez.

  

No-kill animal shelter, Bergen County Protection and Rescue Foundation, are appealing for donations to help with care of the rescued puppies, kittens and adult animals until they are ready for adoption.

Anyone interesting in adopting one of the rescued animals can call the North Bergen Health Department at 201-392-2085.

(Daily Mail - Jan 14, 2016)