A Phillipsburg woman faces charges for failing to provide veterinary care for a dog that later died.
FLEMINGTON -- The state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has filed animal cruelty charges against a Phillipsburg woman who owns and runs Catnip Friends Rescue in the Flemington area.
(file photo)The charges stem from the death of a dog, said Col. Frank Rizzo, superintendent of the N.J. SPCA's law enforcement division, in a release on Friday.
Linda Wilferth, 57, is due in Flemington Borough Municipal Court on Jan. 28 for a hearing, the N.J. SPCA reports. Wilferth could not immediately be reached for comment.
A call to the N.J. SPCA's hotline prompted an investigation into the online purchase of a dog that later became sick, said agency spokesman Matt Stanton.
"In response to a complaint from a consumer to the NJSPCA's hotline, NJSPCA's investigation revealed that Wilferth sold a dog for $500 to a consumer," Rizzo said in a press release.
"A few days later the dog became very ill and the consumer returned the dog to Wilferth," Rizzo said. "Wilferth knowingly took the sick dog back into her possession and failed to provide any veterinary care. The dog died the following day."
Catnip Friends operates online, Stanton said, but the person who purchased the dog returned it to her in Flemington during a meeting in front of a Main Street building, he said. That's why the charges are filed in Flemington municipal court, Stanton said.
The Main Street location is the address of Simply Cats Hotel, which offers pet care services including boarding and pet-sitting. A voicemail message to the business was not immediately returned.
The N.J. SPCA filed two counts of animal cruelty against Wilferth on Nov. 20, for failing to provide necessary care, in this case veterinary care, Rizzo said.
"One is criminal and one is civil," Stanton said. The criminal charge is a disorderly persons offense, he said, punishable by up to $1,000, and/or six months in jail or community service.
Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.
