New Jersey: Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik face 552 animal cruelty charges for hoarding dogs

NEW JERSEY -- A township husband and wife face 552 charges of animal cruelty after authorities found 276 dogs in their split-level home earlier this month.

Charlene and Joseph Handrik of Bennett Road are accused of inflicting unnecessary cruelty on the dogs by providing inhumane living conditions, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said in a statement Friday.

Gramiccioni said the couple also faces charges of failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care to their dogs.

However, he said authorities chose to charge the couple with disorderly persons offenses, not indictable charges, because the dogs weren't in bad good condition despite being crammed in the house, Gramiccioni said.

"This decision was due in large part to the miraculous fact that despite living in deplorable conditions and not receiving proper veterinary care, the dogs seized from the residence were in relatively good physical health," Gramiccioni said.

The lesser charges came after extensive discussions between his office and the prosecutor's office, said Ross Licitra, interim president, chief executive officer and chief law enforcement officer at the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA).

On June 3, the Howell Township Animal Control called the county SPCA after responding to a call about a stray dog running around the neighborhood prompted concern about the number of dogs inside the Bennett Road home.

Authorities said the county SPCA, along with the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Howell Township Police Department, and other agencies went to the house and discovered the dogs were being hoarded in deplorable conditions.

The Handriks may face additional charges for failing to properly license and vacinate the animals, Gramiccioni said.

All of the charges will handled in Howell Municipal Court.

An attempt to contact the Handriks was unsuccessful.

(NJ.com - June 17, 2016)

Earlier:

• New Jersey: Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik had more than 270 dogs in 'extreme hoarding situation'