Monday, January 28, 2013
Pet shop animal cruelty case is finally resolved
The two operators of the former Puppies Galore pet store in Brick must pay thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, and have both received a lifetime ban from engaging in animal-related businesses. Maria De Santis, 58, of Jackson, owned Puppies Galore on Hooper Avenue. Nathan "Nat" Sladkin, 72, of Farmingdale, was the store's manager. The animal cruelty cases against both were resolved last week. On Jan. 26, 2012, authorities removed 39 puppies from the store – which was already closed due to health violations – after receiving a tip from a member of the public. The puppies were found to be sick and malnourished, officials said at the time, and some were taken to emergency animal hospitals for treatment. The store's operating license…
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Trial was expected to begin Wednesday
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 mark the beginning of the animal cruelty trial 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…
Current stores will still be able to operate, however
Joining only a few municipalities nationwide to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats, the Brick Township council voted unanimously Tuesday night to pass an ordinance outlawing the practice. The new ordinance bans businesses from selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering or auctioning cats or dogs. It does, however, grandfather in current businesses that operate legally. The new law covers both pet stores as well as businesses that register as kennels. In Brick, just one such business exists: Breeders Association of America, Inc., on Route 70. The store, registered as a kennel, has been the subject of protests by animal rights activists who accuse the store of selling puppies from so-called "puppy mills." Attempts by Brick Patch to …
Monday, July 9, 2012
Special prosecutor assigned to case
The owner and manager of the former Puppies Galore pet shop are set to appear in court this week on animal cruelty charges. Store owner Maria De Santis, an Old Bridge resident, is facing 38 counts of animal cruelty related to her ownership of the business, which was shut down by authorities in January. A court appearance has been scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Brick municipal court, court staff told Brick Patch on Monday. De Santis, along with store manager Nathan "Nat" Sladkin, were both charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after 39 puppies – 26 of which were found to be sick – were removed from the store they ran in the Town Hall Shoppes plaza near the corner of Brick Boulevard and Hooper Avenue following a complaint …
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Second reading and public hearing for new pet laws set for next council meeting on July 10
Two ordinances seeking to modify laws regarding the sale of pets in the township and related enforcement codes were heard for a first reading at Tuesday evening’s council meeting. The sale ordinance seeks to prohibit any pet store operator or pet store from selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering, auctioning or otherwise improperly disposing of cats or dogs in the Township of Brick. However, the ordinance does not apply to legally existing nonconforming pet stores, or shelters, pounds or other establishments from keeping, displaying, selling or otherwise transferring any cat or dog that has been seized, rescued or donated. Penalties for violating this ordinance are proposed to be $2,000 per each offense, 90 days of incarceration …
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Brick Township Municipal Offices
401 Chambersbridge Rd, Brick, NJ
/articles/township-council-hears-first-reading-of-proposed-pet-ordinances
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Monday, April 2, 2012
Bill comes two months after Brick store shut down
A group of Ocean County lawmakers have introduced a bill they say will eliminate the sale of dogs and cats in New Jersey from so-called "puppy mills." The proposal comes just over two months after Puppies Galore, a pet store in Brick, was shut down by authorities after 26 of the 39 dogs being held there were found to be sick. Sen. Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (all R-Ocean) have introduced the "Healthy Puppies and Kittens Assurance Act" which the group said in a joint statement Monday will place strict regulations on pet stores that sell animals from puppy and kitten mill breeders. The bill establishes a state registry of breeders and pet dealers who will have to provide information on the health and breeding …
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Animal advocates come to township council meeting
A number of animal advocates from across the state came to Tuesday evening's council meeting to urge the governing body to move on a proposed town-wide ban of stores that sell puppies. The proposal, first put forth by Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, would prevent establishments from selling more than 10 dogs or cats per year. "We need to protect and speak for the voiceless," said Jody Davis of Freehold, who came to this week's meeting. "The conditions in puppy stores are often painful and uncomfortable for the animals." A subcommittee of three council members – Susan Lydecker, Domenick Brando and Dan Toth – is now researching the issue. Some people expressed concerns that the effort to ban puppy stores – which are often registered as kennels …
Friday, March 16, 2012
Pet store owner could ask for change of venue
The owner and manager of the former Puppies Galore pet store were in Brick municipal court Thursday evening. Maria De Santis, the store's owner, is facing 38 counts of animal cruelty related to her ownership of the business, which was shut down by authorities in January. The store's manager, Nathan "Nat" Sladkin, is facing four counts of animal cruelty. Municipal Court Judge Robert M. Lepore granted De Santis' attorney's request for a 45 day period of discovery, during which she and her attorney can comb through the documents that make up the state's case against her. De Santis' attorney said after the discovery period, the defense may request a change in venue due to statements that have been made by people associated with the township. …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Ordinance tabled at township council meeting
The township council tabled an ordinance aimed at prohibiting stores that sell puppies from operating in town. The decision was made at Tuesday evening's towship council meeting. The governing body will most likely consider another ordinance at a future time after a council subcommittee looks into the issue. "There are concerns about the number of animals, as well as some other issues," said Council President John Ducey. Council members said they had received a large amount of feedback on the ordinance since it was first proposed. Some people who have addressed the governing body during public comment portions of recent meetings have said they are concerned the ordinance could negatively impact small breeders in town – ostensibly not a …
Friday, March 9, 2012
Council will have the option of removing grandfathering clause
When the Brick Township council considers enacting an ordinance that will ban puppy stores in town, council members will have the option to delete a section in the law that grandfathers in businesses already in existence. The council is set to consider an ordinance on first reading next Tuesday. An effort to ban stores that sell puppies gained momentum following the closure and license revocation of Puppies Galore, a pet store on Hooper Avenue. The owner and manager of that store have since been criminally charged with animal cruelty. The ordinance, first proposed by Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, would ban the establishment of any new stores that sell dogs or cats or any breeder that sells more than 10 puppies in a calendar year. The law, as…
Old Guy
10:21 am on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Linny, if you are serious about finding a great lifetime pal, the safest way to a healthy pet is the animal shelter. They are all checked out by professionals, and verified healthy before they are ok'ed for adoption. You can spend as much time as you need, in an isolated room with your new pal, before taking it home. Since they are mostly adults, the house breaking stage is over. Like humans, … more ›