On March 16, troopers from Troop "B" Sussex Station responded to a heartbreaking situation in Sussex County, where they discovered dog were being dumped across multiple townships including Stillwater, Lafayette, and Wantage. Reports flooded in about abandoned dogs, alerting authorities to the dire conditions these animals were facing. Dozens of small dogs left in open crates, thrown out of moving vehicles, exposed to the harsh elements, without food or water were dumped like trash across Sussex County. Though dozens of dogs have been found (dead and alive), it is still unknown how many dogs are still out there suffering and fighting to survive if they have not already given up. The search is STILL ongoing.

This blatant act of cruelty with intent to harm, not only violates the trust and care these animals depended on, but it also poses a significant moral and legal issue that must be addressed with the utmost seriousness. Three individuals have been identified: Joshua Ciemniecki, 19; Robert Ciemniecki, 74; and Kaila McNeill, 30, all of Phillipsburg, NJ.

It is crucial that acts of animal cruelty are met with strong, decisive legal action. Therefore, we urgently call upon the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office to ensure that justice is served by pursuing the maximum lawful sentence for all persons involved. By doing so, we send a clear message that our community will not tolerate such inhumane treatment of animals.

Animal cruelty goes beyond just a legal offense—it is a moral failing that impacts the social fabric of our communities. The abandonment and pain these dogs experienced is utterly unacceptable, and we must ensure that those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Join us in our plea for justice for these abandoned dogs. We urge you to sign this petition to demand that the Sussex County Prosecutor takes the strongest possible action in this case. Your signature can help emphasize the community's stand against animal cruelty and the need for swift, stringent justice. Together, we can be the voice these voiceless animals desperately need. Please sign to show that compassion and justice must prevail.