The NJSPCA said it had opened a criminal investigation after rescuing the dogs on New Year's Eve
An emaciated puppy and two other dogs were rescued on New Year's Eve from a Central Jersey apartment, where they'd apparently been abandoned and left for dead, according to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The discovery of the grown dogs and the puppy, described as "skin and bones" and in need of urgent medical care, sparked sharp criticism of a municipal animal control officer, whom the SPCA said initially refused to take the animals because it was a holiday weekend and because there was no room at the local shelter.
Only after the animal control officer was threatened with criminal charges did the official respond, taking the puppy to a medical facility, Frank Rizzo, chief of the SPCA's law enforcement division, said in a statement.
For reasons that were not immediately clear, the SPCA would not name the town or county where the animals were found.
Agency officials expressed anger over the local response, noting the animal control officer also said the town did not want to pick up the cost of medical expenses for the puppy.
"SPCA staff found this response completely unacceptable and reminded the ACO (animal control officer) that as a full-time employee with a salary and benefits, the ACO is mandated by state law to provide animal control services 24 hours a day, seven days a week," the agency's statement said.
On New Year's Day, the statement said, the animal control officer and the medical facility demanded the puppy be removed. Rizzo said the SPCA sergeant who responded to the scene the day before arranged for an animal rescue group to find the puppy a home.
"At this time the puppy is stable, receiving necessary care and has a good prognosis," the statement said.
The two older dogs were healthy and placed in a shelter, the statement said.
The SCPA said it responded to the apartment at 4 p.m. on New Year's eve after a landlord discovered the dogs unattended and received no help from local animal control or the police.
"It is pretty clear to us that all three animals were abandoned and likely left to die," Rizzo said.
He said the agency had opened a criminal investigation into the abandonment case and would begin hunting for the tenant.
"Once the owner is found, he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Rizzo said.
Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.