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Animal hoarder forbidden from owning animals again
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LOWER TOWNSHIP - An animal hoarder was found guilty of cruelty and neglect after he allowed dogs to become emaciated and infested with ticks and fleas, animal welfare advocates said Friday.
Victor Cruz of Woodbine was found guilty Tuesday evening after five hours of testimony about the condition of animals on his property, said Nancy Beall, president of the Atlantic County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who assisted in the investigation and attended the municipal court trial.
"It was absolutely horrible, the condition those animals were in," Beall said.
The state SPCA began the investigation, and the Atlantic County chapter treated two dogs for heartworm after state investigators wanted them euthanized, Beall said.
The Atlantic County SPCA also took 16 cats from the property.
Linda Gentille, president of the Animal Alliance of Cape May County, said she made several visits to Cruz's property since August 2007 and tried to help him give his dogs medications to kill the parasites. She said she testified that Cruz believed he was helping the animals, but became overwhelmed with their care.
Cruz took the stand in his own defense and admitted he could not afford to care for the animals without help from several neighbors, Gentille said.
He said he received one unspayed female dog from Joanne Hill of Tri County Animal Control, and the dog had eight puppies. He agreed to relinquish the mother dog, later named Ginger, and the puppies to Beacon Animal Rescue.
Judge David DeWeese found Cruz guilty of animal cruelty and neglect and ruled that he may never own animals again, Gentille said. He was not ordered to pay about $5,000 in restitution for care of the sick animals because of his financial situation.
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