180 dogs and cats seized from Brick home being readied for adoption

Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
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BRICK — About 180 dogs and cats seized from an allegedly crowded, filthy home in Brick are being readied for adoption, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

The Brick Police Department transferred ownership of the animals to the care of the county health department on Dec. 6, according to the health department. The health department operates two animal shelters, which are located in Jackson and Stafford.

The pets were originally seized Saturday by authorities from a Brick home on Arrowhead Park Drive, where police said conditions were filthy. The animals were stacked in cages that were filled with urine, feces and trash, according to health department officials. After being seized, the pets were transferred to the health department's two animal shelters as well as an emergency overflow shelter in Barnegat.

Brick police, fire and EMS, along with Ocean County Sheriff's Department respond to an alleged illegal 'puppy mill' operation at a residential home on Arrowhead Park Drive, Dec. 3, 2022.
Brick police, fire and EMS, along with Ocean County Sheriff's Department respond to an alleged illegal 'puppy mill' operation at a residential home on Arrowhead Park Drive, Dec. 3, 2022.

One of shelter staff's first tasks was to bathe the animals.

"It was an all-hands-on-deck situation," Daniel Regenye, a public health officer with the county department, said in a news release. "We are grateful to the OCHD (Ocean County Health Department) staff that answered the call by stepping up and working on scheduled days off, planned vacation days and many hours of overtime. Employees from departments separate from the shelter also offered their assistance throughout the week working in a variety of different roles."

The Brick home's occupants — Aimee Lonczak, 49, and Michele Nycz, 58 — face charges of animal cruelty as well as child endangerment, related to Lonczak's 16-year-old child living in the house with the animals. The home has since been condemned by township officials.

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Since the animals were moved to the health department's shelters, donations have poured in, according to county officials. Trailers of supplies were set up to support the pets.

One the cats and dogs receive veterinary care, vaccinations, are spayed and neutered, and microchipped, they will be available for adoption, county officials said.

"Over the next several days, our staff will continue to work tirelessly to prepare these cats and dogs for adoption," said Regenye, of the health department.

Information on adoptions as well as suggested donation lists are on the health department's website, at www.ochd.org.

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Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Brick NJ puppy mill animals readied for adoption