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Written by
CHARLES WEBSTER
STAFF WRITER

MILLSTONE — A township couple and the woman’s sister are facing 26 counts of animal cruelty after animal protection officials responded to a complaint that eight dogs and five cats were living in squalor on Stillhouse Road, an official said.

Sgt. Matthew Guiliano, of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, arrived at the home, in the first block of Stillhouse Road, around 2 p.m. Saturday to discover a “nasty odor” coming from inside the home before he called New Jersey State Police for assistance, according to Victor “Buddy” Amato, chief law enforcement officer for the Monmouth County SPCA.

The officers discovered thousands of house flies flying inside the house, and eight dogs and five cats, all flea-infested and soaked in urine, Amato explained.

The animals were removed from the house and, once cleared by officials, will be available for adoption.

The homeowner, John F. Blocker, 57, was charged with six counts of animal cruelty, three counts of failure to provide necessary sustenance and three counts of failure to provide proper shelter for two dogs and one cat he allegedly had responsibility for, Amato said.

Blocker’s girlfriend, Rose J. Islam, 46, was responsible for the care of five dogs and four cats at the home, according to Amato. She is charged with nine counts each of animal cruelty, failure to provide necessary sustenance and failure to provide proper shelter, Amato said.

Islam’s sister, Donna L. Erving, 46, is charged with two counts of animal cruelty, and one count each of failure to provide necessary sustenance and failure to provide proper shelter, Amato said.

The trio faces $1,000 in fines for each charge filed against them on Monday, Amato said.

All three are expected in Millstone Municipal Court on May 24 to answer to the charges, Amato explained.