May 21, 2007 10:31 am US/Eastern
N.J. Councilman To Answer For Alleged Animal Abuse
by Carol Erickson
WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
An alleged deadly case of animal cruelty has one South Jersey public official facing jail time. He is charged along with his mother in the deaths of nine puppies.
These are happy, carefree days for puppy Elf. It's nothing like back in brutally cold February. That's when he and his 14 littermates started life in horrific conditions.
According to the New Jersey SPCA, they were born in 12 degree cold weather outside in the yard of a Chesilhurst Councilman.
"They're basically freezing as they're being born, which is just horrible," N.J. SPCA Sgt. Jane Donoghue said.
Nine of the puppies died within days of their birth. Their bodies were kept as evidence for the nine charges of failure to provide adequate shelter, filed against Chesilhurst Councilman Robert McCann and his mother Rita Dickerson.
The veterinarian report blames the puppies' deaths on complications from hypothermia.
When asked why the dog was outside having puppies, Rita Dickerson responded, "Because that ain't no house dog. She had puppies out there before."
Kathy McGuire, from New Jersey Aid for Animals, rescued the puppies and the mother dog, Coco, a day after their birth by buying the entire litter.
"I'm angry that a city councilman who represents a borough wouldn't have more common sense than to bring in a pregnant dog," McGuire said.
Mr. McCann says Mrs. Dickerson owns the dogs.
"They're not my dogs," Dickerson said.
Coco's owners will be answering to more than ownership issues when they appear in court in Berlin on cruelty charges on May 16.
Councilman McCann and his mother insisted that Coco be returned. But the rescue group returned her only after having her spayed.
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