The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s National Justice for Animals Week is an annual event dedicated to raising public awareness about crimes committed against animals.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office marks this week with a look at its Animal Cruelty Unit and some of the cases it has worked on.
The unit is overseen by Capt. Kevin Hincks, chief humane law enforcement officer, or HLEO, and Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Heyer.
Detective Denise Montgomery is also a trained HLEO, along with Detective Caryn Campanlli, Grace Long and Joshua Corona.
The group works collaboratively with every municipality in the county, all of which have their own HLEOs.
"Our office recognizes that every day animals are abused and killed," the office released in a statement. "It is also recognized that studies have documented the link between animal cruelty and the manifestation of violence against humans, particularly the link between animal abuse and other forms of abuse such as
elder abuse, child abuse and domestic violence."
Gary Moore, of Atlantic City, was sentenced to three years in prison in August 2022, after admitting to fatally beating his girlfriend's seven-pound puppy. The body was found stuffed between the mattress and box spring of her bed.
He was paroled July 6, according to the state Department of Corrections.
Michael Ciarla is currently in Bayside State Prison serving a four-year term for beating his girlfriend's kitten so badly that the animal's legs were no longer connected to its spine.
The Galloway Township man was on pretrial release for a gun incident when he attacked the kitten.
Some pending cases include several animals rescued from hoarding conditions, beatings resulting in death or serious injury to the animal, neglect resulting in death from hypothermia or hyperthermia, abandonment, and illicit, unlicensed dog breeding.
“Our office represents all of the citizens of Atlantic County, as well as the animals who also
live here," Heyer said. "We are the voice for those victims who have none. Individuals who beat, kill, mistreat and/or neglect animals, wildlife or birds will frequently manifest cruelty towards all
living things, progressing to domestic partners, children, aging parents.
"Very frequently, a victim of domestic abuse will report that their pet was killed or cruelly beaten by their
abuser.” she added.
A study found that 89 percent of women who had companion animals during an abusive relationship reported that their animals were threatened, harmed or killed by their abusive partner. Investigators noted that animal abuse was found in 88 percent of homes in which physical child abuse was being investigated.
Studies also found that 43 percent of those who commit school massacres also committed acts of
cruelty to animals, generally against cats and dogs.
Animal abusers are five times as likely to also harm other humans, according to a 1997 study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University.
New Jersey is ranked 14th of the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.
