Municipal Prosecutor Steven Zabarsky told Clark both sides have an agreement regarding the number of charges but still have to resolve the matter of fines and penalties.
Dog hoarders trying to work out a deal, attorney says
He said he needs another week to finalize his offer to the Handriks and their attorney, Raymond Raya, needs that week to discuss with them whether to accept it.
"This case certainly has been outstanding for quite some time," Clark said. "I see absolutely no reason why we should continue this case beyond an extra week."
Clark said that if there is an agreement, she wants to see it in writing before next week's court session.
"Next week is going to be a plea or plea cut-off," she said.
An officer of the Associated Humane Societies in Tinton Falls made the discovery when he was in the area trying to find the home of a dog that had gotten loose. Knocking on the door of the Handriks' house, he heard barking of what he assumed was about 20 dogs, officials have said.
Concerned that he may have stumbled onto a hoarding situation, the officer alerted the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which sent an investigator to the house several times because the Handriks were either not home or did not answer the door, Ross Licitra, chief animal control officer for the MCSPCA has said.
When the investigator was able to make contact with the couple, he found the house packed with dogs. Rescue personnel spent close to 12 hours removing dogs from the house.
All the dogs were eventually adopted out.
(NJ.com - November 9, 2016)
Earlier:
- New Jersey: Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik had more than 270 dogs in 'extreme hoarding situation'
- New Jersey: Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik face 552 animal cruelty charges for hoarding dogs
- New Jersey: New Jersey: Howell dog hoarders Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik appear in court; face maximum of $1M in fines
- New Jersey: Dog hoarders Joseph Handrik and Charlene Handrik trying to work out a deal, attorney says
