A 46-year-old Warren County man is charged with animal cruelty after repeatedly allowing his dogs to roam loose, resulting in an accident in Blairstown that left one of the animals dead, police said.
David Black, 46, of Hardwick Township is facing the third-degree charge by New Jersey State Police. State police also investigated the case.
Blairstown Township Police Chief Scott Johnsen said Black was warned multiple times in the past to keep his dogs contained or on a leash. The dogs have been found in the roadway by investigators during past incidents, Johnsen said.
Around 7 p.m. Monday, a car struck one of Black’s two dogs in the roadway in Blairstown.
Officers found one dog severely injured and the other uninjured, according to police. Johnsen said the injured dog succumbed to injuries at the scene.
Also responding to the accident was Blairstown’s Animal Control Officer Robert Lagonera who transported the uninjured dog to an animal hospital for a medical evaluation, police said.
Black has been cited by both the Blairstown and Newton Animal Control Office, contracted by Hardwick Township, with over 20 counts of dogs at large in recent months, according to Johnsen.
Officers spent countless hours trying to catch the loose dogs, but often could not, as the dogs refused to allow them near, the chief said. Johnsen said Black ignored suggestions by officers to keep the dogs properly contained.
The surviving dog now is being fostered, pending an upcoming court hearing, police said.
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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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