It's not the owner's first brush with health and animal wellness authorities.
AVENEL -- A puppy shop owner who has had previous brushes with animal protection authorities was arrested Sunday for allegedly continuing to sell dogs even after a court order barring him from doing so.
Rocco Garruto, 63, of Bridgewater, was charged with a single count of contempt of court. Police say he is the owner of Fancy Pups, a Saint Georges Avenue pet shop which is currently barred from selling dogs after an order of the Woodbridge municipal court. Township authorities said Fancy Pups was selling dogs that were "clearly unhealthy and unfit for sale."
An inspection of the facility earlier this month led to the discovery of animals who were forced to live in feces- and urine-soaked shredded newspapers, without access to water and with flies buzzing around the customer area, police said.
After that inspection, a court order from Woodbridge required Garruto and several employees to stop selling, purchasing or transferring dogs, but Garruto continued to do so -- this time, from Crystal Auto Sales, also on Saint Georges Avenue and also owned by Garruto, police said.
Police said they found three dogs at the auto sales location.
Garruto could not be reached for comment.
Ten dogs were surrendered on Christmas Eve, and three more on Sunday. Some went to a boxer rescue, and others are being treated at a veterinarian that the town has a contract with, township spokesman John Hagerty said in an email.
They were suffering from a variety of ailments, including giardia, malnutrition and parvovirus, township officials said.
MyCentralJersey.com reported that the Garruto and two employees were charged with a number of health code and animal cruelty violations. A Scotch Plains veterinarian was also charged with offenses related to the care of animals, the news outlet reported.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
