40 Dead Animals, Dozens Of Live Ones Rescued From Pickup Truck In NJ

SUSSEX CO., NJ — Dozens of animals were rescued from a filthy pickup truck and many more were found dead in what North Jersey animal shelters are calling a "horrendous" and "unimaginable situation of animal cruelty."

A "small beaten-down pickup truck" parked behind a strip mall in Sussex County gave off such an odor that people could smell it down the road, said two local rescues. The truck was crammed with cats and dogs both alive and dead, and had been parked there since Thursday according to rescuers.

The rescue happened Monday night in Hampton Township, according to Eleventh Hour Rescue and Hopatcong Animal Shelter, which helped get the animals out.

Eleventh Hour said at least 40 dead animals, many of them puppies and kittens, were stored in garbage bags inside the truck.

Another 38 dogs and six cats were alive, and everything in the truck "was soaked in feces, urine, and animal remains" according to a Facebook post from the Morris County-based shelter.

"We were hands on pulling out these terrified dogs from this truck all night as they did anything they could to hide from the world and our lungs are still burning from inhaling the fumes," said Eleventh Hour in a Facebook post.

Patch has reached out to law enforcement in Sussex County and nearby Newton Township to determine if anyone has been charged in this case.

Four of the dogs, all male, are at Hopatcong Animal Shelter which is seeking fosters.

"Today starts day 1 of their new life and never having to worry about when they’ll be fed next or if they’ll ever touch grass again," said the shelter.

Hopatcong Animal Shelter is also asking for donations of food and supplies to be sent via Chewy and Amazon.

Four more of the dogs are with Eleventh Hour, and the shelter said three of them "are so under socialized and terrified of the world and will need time in foster homes to recover and heal." Foster applications with Eleventh Hour can be submitted online.

One of the dogs in Eleventh Hour's care is a 17-year-old Chihuahua, said the rescue.

Click here to see more photos of the animals, but be warned they contain images of animal cruelty.