MCSPCA prosecutes animal cruelty cases

EATONTOWN — The Monmouth County SPCA law enforcement division brought animal cruelty charges against two people, according to Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato, chief law enforcement officer.

Amato said, Donald H. Tietjen, of West Long Branch, was charged with animal cruelty stemming from an Oct. 28 incident in which two witnesses allegedly saw him using a high-caliber pellet gun to shoot at groundhogs. Amato said, Tietjen was charged with animal cruelty on Nov. 23. According to Amato, he is scheduled for a hearing in West Long Branch Municipal Court on Dec. 17.

In another case, Amato said Leondray Bell II, of Asbury Park, was charged with animal cruelty for failing to provide necessary sustenance for his dog in a timely manner. Bell appeared Nov. 20 in Asbury Park Municipal Court and was ordered to pay more than $400 in fines and restitution after pleading guilty to animal cruelty, Amato said.

Amato said the charges stemmed from the death of Bell's 1-year-old pit bull Princess who died at a Red Bank animal clinic Nov. 3.

According to Amato, veterinarians determined that the dog had septic shock and their evaluation of the dog revealed that she suffered emaciation, dehydration and severe hypoglycemia, which indicated a general neglect for the dog's health and care. The clinic notified the MCSPCA.