Ocean County Man Charged with Animal Cruelty for 157 Cats

Ocean County Man Indicted On 149 Counts Of Animal Cruelty

Ocean County Man Charged with Animal Cruelty for 157 Cats

According to Ocean County Prosecutors Office, a man from Brick Township who rented out his house with 157 cats has entered a guilty plea to animal cruelty.

According to prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Jeffrey S. Finlay, 56, entered a guilty plea to two charges of animal cruelty before Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer on Monday.

When he is sentenced on April 25, prosecutors will ask for a 180-day probationary period in the Ocean County Jail, a lifetime ban from owning animals, and community service that does not involve animals, according to the prosecutor's office.

On May 4, 2023, Finlay called Brick Township Police to come to his house on Mantoloking Road to help him get rid of too many animals. When the officers arrived, they discovered three dogs and 157 cats.

Finlay was first accused of failing to provide care for a living animal or creature after the animals were transported to the Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities for treatment.

But, according to Billhimer, the charges were raised after several cats had to be put down and others had suffered severe injuries as a result of his neglect.

At first, authorities reported that four cats had suffered serious injuries and that 25 cats had to be put down. According to the plea announcement, the Ocean County Health Department's veterinarians' report showed that 68 cats had either been euthanized or suffered severe physical harm as a result of Finlay's neglect of the animals' needs.

On June 14, 2023, Finlay surrendered himself to 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.