New Jersey: Dogs from Jackson Hoarding Case Found Covered in Filth

NEW JERSEY -- As we are still working with the dogs from the outrageous Howell hoarding case, where 280 dogs were removed from one home, we recently got in another group of dogs that are just as terrified as the little Howell dogs, yet in much worse condition.

The NJ SPCA alerted us to a situation in Jackson, NJ, where several dogs were being kept in horrific conditions in a garage. The owners of the dogs started out with just a couple of dogs but quickly became overwhelmed when they began to multiply. As far as we know, there were a total of 17 dogs living in the garage and range in age from 5 months old to young adults. 

 

In the first four pictures here that were provided to us by Home Free Rescue, the garage was covered in feces, as were the dogs. There was no ventilation in this garage, no windows, nowhere for the urine and feces to go, and no end in sight for these poor dogs living in such filth and misery.

Home Free Rescue removed many of the dogs with the owners' cooperation and we took in four of these poor souls. All are less than a year old and all are completely terrified. They were born in that garage and never set foot outside of it until the day they were removed, put into carriers, and taken away from the hell that they were living in.

The dogs were saturated in urine and covered in feces. The feces had been on them for so long that it had formed dreadlocks, twisted tightly up against their skin. The three male dogs had to be completely shaved down to the skin. The female was soaked for close to an hour in a warm bath to remove the feces and she was able to avoid being shaved.

 

The cleaning up of these poor dogs was absolutely dreadful but that was the easy part, really. The hard part is getting them to realize that they are safe and cared for, and that they have nothing to be afraid of. Right now they are still quite terrified and can barely handle being touched. This is just heartbreaking to watch but we have been through this before with so many groups of dogs from so many terrible situations, and we know that with lots of time, love and patience, we will get through to these terribly scared pups.

   

None of them are available for adoption right now as they will need a lot of work and socialization. If you would like to help them, we ask that you please make a donation to our Res-Q Fund which is being depleted time and time again with every new, sad case that comes in. You can also text HumaneHelp to 41444 to donate.

Our new friends Pinto, Sprout, Huckleberry and Clementine thank you for your support. We will update again soon on their condition.

(Associated Humane Societies and Popcorn Park - June 14, 2016)