The trial of the former owner and manager of the Puppies Galore pet store has been postponed.
A court date had been set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, but court staff told Brick Patch the case had been adjourned. A new date had not yet been set. It was expected that the court date would of store owner Maria De Santis and manager Nathan "Nat" Sladkin.
De Santis is facing 38 counts of animal cruelty, while Sladkin is facing four counts of the same charge.
In January, authorities shut down the store, located in the Town Hall Shoppes plaza, and removed 39 puppies. Officials said 26 of the 39 puppies were sick at the time. The store, before the puppies were removed, had just stopped operating following a slew of complaints brought by the Ocean County Health Department.
In February, the township council .
The criminal charges since a short time after the puppies were removed.
