Two city residents face more animal cruelty charges
Wounds on two male pit bulls consistent with bite marks
Additional animal cruelty charges were brought upon two Asbury Park men after veterinarians confirmed the wounds and scars on two male pit bulls found in their care were bite marks.
“They are definitely dog bites, the wounds are consistent with bite marks,” according to Victor “Buddy” Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [MCSPCA].
Kourtney Blackmon, 32, and Ahlonzo Miller, 33, now face charges of procuring animal cruelty by direct or indirect means.
Blackmon was previously charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty including failure to provide proper shelter, failure to provide care, and cause and procure of animal abuse.
Miller was previously charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty including overloading an animal, failure to provide care, and cause and procure of animal abuse.
The charges carry between $1000 and $2000 fines and up to six months’ jail time, Amato said.
It is not known whether the dogs were fighting each other or were involved in a fight with other dogs, he said.
“Regardless, they allowed it to happen, either by direct or indirect means,” Amato said.
The dogs were found by Asbury Park Police officers who were conducting an investigation at the Prospect Avenue house for an unrelated incident saw wounds on the two dogs, noted a lack of food or water, and alerted Amato. Amato immediately dispatched MCSPCA officers Deputy Chief Larry Donato and Detective Sgt. William Hyer and gave them the authority to seize the animals, he said.
It will be the MCSPCA’s goal to have the animals adopted, after the court case has concluded, Amato said.
“We don’t give placement until we know they can be given to a family,” he previously told the Sun. ”It’s important to remember these dogs may be aggressive towards other dogs, but that doesn’t mean they are going to be nasty towards humans.
Blackmon and Miller will appear in Asbury Park Municipal Court on Feb. 14.
Anyone who has information about the case is asked to contact Amato at 732-312-7153.
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