BRICK, N.J. (CBS) — Two people were arrested Friday night in Ocean County on charges of animal cruelty and child endangerment, police said. Police responded to a home in Ocean County after receiving an anonymous complaint about a possible puppy mill.
When police arrived, they rescued nearly 200 animals, but for at least two dogs, help came too late.
On Friday at 7:30 p.m., police in Brick, New Jersey encountered residents Aimee Lonczak, 49, and Michele Nycz, 58, at a home on Arrowhead Park Drive.
During the initial interview, officers smelled a strong animal odor coming from the house. They were allowed into the home, where they encountered a large number of neglected animals.
Inside there were dogs and cats in crates, stacked one on top of the other.
Police called in the hazmat unit for help as the house was covered in faeces. That’s when they discovered two dead dogs inside the house.
It took rescuers about 10 hours to move all the animals to multiple area shelters.
A responding veterinarian also sent at least eight animals for emergency veterinary care.
Further investigation also revealed that a 16-year-old girl, Lonczak’s daughter, also lived in the house. Lonzak and Nickz were arrested on charges of animal cruelty and child endangerment.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
