TOMS RIVER — A Brick Township man has been sentenced to 180 days in Ocean County Jail after a guilty plea to two counts of animal cruelty related to an incident where 157 cats and three dogs were discovered living at a residence on Mantoloking Road in 2023, according to a release from the Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Jeffrey Finlay, 56, was sentenced by state Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer. In addition to his sentence, Finlay may never own animals again and must perform 25 days of community service, not involving animals.
On May 4, 2023, officers from the Brick Township Police Department were requested by Finlay himself to respond for assistance with removing an excessive number of animals from his residence on Mantoloking Road.
Responding officers discovered approximately 157 cats and three dogs living at the residence. Over the course of 24 hours, the animals were removed from the residence and transferred for treatment and evaluation to the Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities, which are under the direction of the Ocean County Health Department. Finlay was initially charged with failure to provide care for a living animal or creature.
On June 5, 2023, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Brick Township Police Department received the final veterinary reports from the Ocean County Health Department regarding the animals that were removed from the residence.
The report determined that 68 cats had suffered serious bodily injury or had to be euthanized, all as a result of Finlay’s failure to provide necessary care for the animals.
Based upon the report’s findings, Finlay was charged on June 11, 2023 with animal cruelty and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On June 14, 2023, Finlay surrendered at Brick Township Police Headquarters. He was processed and transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
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