PICTURED: Woman, 47, arrested after ten-week-old Golden Retriever puppy was found dead in cage weighted down with a crystal vase and thrown into New Jersey pond
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- Tonya Fea, 47, of Jefferson Township, New Jersey, told police that she threw a caged dog into a local pond, though she says the animal was dead at the time
- An autopsy performed on the animal contradicts Fea's claims, as the dog is found to have died from asphyxiation caused by drowning
- Fea has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in New Jersey state prison
- Last week, a 10-week-old puppy was found dead in a cage in Greenwood Pond in West Milford
- The cage was being weighed down in the water with a crystal vase
- The pup, which the rescue group which found her has named Jenny, had pee pads with a small amount of blood on them stuck to her head when found
- Last Resort Rescue has so far raised $12,000 through Facebook donations for anyone who provides information connected to the case
Tonya Fea, 47, of Jefferson Township, New Jersey, has been arrested for allegedly drowning a 10-week-old puppy in a local pond, according to local authorities
A New Jersey woman arrested in the case of a 10-week-old puppy who was found dead in a weighted cage says the animal died before she threw the cage into a local pond.
Tonya Fea, 47, of Jefferson Township was arrested on Tuesday and charged with two counts of third degree animal cruelty and one count of defiant trespass.
Fea’s arrest was made during the course of an investigation by the West Milford Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
If convicted, she could face a maximum of five years in state prison for each count of animal cruelty.
Fea told detectives that while she did throw the cage into the Greenwood Pond in West Milford, the dog was already dead when she did so, according to the North Jersey Record.
Initially, it was not immediately clear whether the puppy died from an injury to the head from being struck with the vase, or whether it drowned in the cage in the water.
But an autopsy performed on the Golden Retriever determined that the dog died of asphyxiation caused by drowning.
The body of the Golden Retriever was found last Tuesday by an animal rescue worker, inside a cage that was being weighed down in the water by a crystal vase.
Authorities said that after news of the puppy's death became public, they were flooded with tips pointing to Fea as the suspect.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Last Tuesday, a 10-week old puppy was found in a crate submerged in water in a New Jersey pond (pictured). Fea reportedly told detectives that she threw the caged dog into a pond, though she says the animal was dead when she did so
The puppy, which The Last Resort Rescue has named Jenny, was found with pee pads stuck to her head, with a small amount of blood on them, in a crate containing a crystal vase (pictured)
Detectives contacted the West Milford Animal Hospital. Officials there told investigators that Fea and her husband were longtime clients.
On the day the dog died, Fea had scheduled an appointment with a vet at the hospital to see her, but she never showed up, according to authorities.
After her arrest, Fea was released from police custody. She is due to appear in court on May 22.
The rescue officer with The Last Resort Rescue said the pup, which the Passaic County nonprofit organization has named Jenny, was 'ice cold' and soaking wet when found, Fox News reported.
The rescue offered a reward of $7,000, amassed through Facebook donations for anyone who provided information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for Jenny's death.
The public outcry was so intense that donations kept pouring in. As of Tuesday evening, the organization raised more than $12,000.
West Milford Animal Hospital told police that Fea and her husband were longtime clients. She was due to bring the puppy in for an exam on the day the animal died, but Fea she never showed, hospital officials told police
On Facebook, The Last Resort Rescue said it is working to locate the two individuals whose tips led to Fea's arrest.
The group said that it will pay the reward after there is a conviction in the case.
The post read: 'ATTENTION EVERYONE!! SHE HAS BEEN ARRESTED!!!!'
It continued: 'I just spoke to the detective charge of the case and I'm happy to report that the woman who allegedly murdered this puppy has been arrested and charged...
'But sickening that our worst fears were confirmed, the official autopsy report confirm that drowning was the cause of death.
'Jenny was ALIVE and was intentionally drowned by this monster.
'They have applied the maximum charges BUT We ALL need to keep sharing and make sure our voices are heard when it comes time for sentencing!!
On Facebook, The Last Resort Rescue said it is working to locate the two individuals whose tips led to Fea's arrest. The group said that it will pay the reward after there is a conviction in the case
'We have asked the investigators to put us in contact with the two people responsible for seeing our post and calling in the tips that led them to making this arrest.
'Once shes convicted we can give them their rightful Reward $.
'Thank you to those individuals, and EVERYONE who has shared, supported and donated to the reward !!
'IT WORKED!!!! TOGETHER, WE DID IT!!!'
The puppy was found with pee pads stuck to her head with a small amount of blood on them, along with the crystal vase inside the crate, the rescue said.
After posting about the puppy, people starting asking The Last Resort Rescue if they could contribute to a reward for information about the puppy's death, so the group started collecting donations over Facebook.
'Anything donated on the link attached to this post will be applied directly to increase the reward amount,' the group said in a Facebook post on April 30.
'If no one comes forward we will apply these funds in her honor to our efforts in saving other puppies in need of rescue.'
After posting about the puppy last week, people starting asking The Last Resort Rescue if they could contribute to a reward for information about the puppy's death, so the group started collecting donations over Facebook
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT The puppy's body was found in a crate submerged in Greenwood Pond in West Milford
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT It was not immediately clear whether the puppy died from an injury to the head from being struck with the vase, or whether Jenny drowned in the cage in the water
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People with information to share are asked to contact West Milford Township Police Detective Eric Darnsteadt at 973-728-2801.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office is also accepting tip by phone at 1-877-370-PCPO or over email at tips@passaiccountynj.org.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT People with information to share are asked to contact West Milford Township Police Detective Eric Darnsteadt at 973-728-2801. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office is also accepting tip by phone at 1-877-370-PCPO (7276) or over email at tips@passaiccountynj.org (Jenny is pictured, as she was found)
