- New Jersey, USA -
On the afternoon of Monday, April 10, 2023, New Jersey State Police said they were called to the parking lot of the Sussex County Mall on Route 206.
Near Marshalls Department Store, responding troopers found a Chevy Silverado pick-up truck that had live and deceased animals inside.
Troopers found approximately forty cats and dogs and a dozen more in three crates in the bed of the truck.
An inspection of the vehicle also led to the discovery of several trash bags in the bed of the truck with more than thirty dead cats and dogs.
News 12 reports that “The dead animals were found in bags and in tins. They were methodically wrapped and preserved.”
Animal control officers and a veterinarian were called in to check the live animals. Meanwhile, 53-years-old LYNN LEONARD, of Bloxom, Virginia, returned to the vehicle and was immediately placed under arrest.
LEONARD was charged with animal cruelty and released pending a future court date.
Rescue organizations such as 11th Hour Animal Rescue, Blairstown Animal Hospital, Newton Animal Hospital, and the Byram Animal Rescue Kindness Squad (BARKS) also responded to the scene to assist with the removal of the animals.
Through a Facebook post, BARKS advised that they took in two cats, three kittens, and one dog and said: “The animals are all very sweet but filthy and hungry.”
Jaime Hall, of 11th Hour Rescue, told News 12: “Just feces everywhere. The smell was horrific. It was what looked like a rundown pickup truck. There [were] feces, kibble, shoes, coats, random stuff. It looked like almost someone lived in the pickup truck. She had had her deceased pets in her freezer, and she decided to put them in the back of her truck because she wanted to move them to her new home.”
Police said the case remains under investigation.
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
Some of the pictures were shared from Byram Animal Rescue Kindness Squad -Barks Inc.
Additional Source:
#animalcruelty #crueldadanimal #cruautéanimale #animalslivesmatter #cats #dogs #newjersey #virginia #deathpenaltyforanimalabusers
This is a weird case. Those poor babies. I truly pray they all find real homes with lots of love. Scratching my head on this one.