Collie Taken By Brick Hoarders Reunited With Family

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — A collie that had been among the 180 dogs and cats pulled from a Brick Township home in an animal hoarding situation has been reunited with its family, just in time for Christmas.

The Ocean County Health Department posted photos of the reunion of Rocky, a 2-year-old collie, when he was returned to his owners on Saturday, calling it "a very special Christmas present."

The family, whose name the health department withheld, had been separated from his family for more than 7 months, the post said.

In an email to Patch, Rocky's owners said they had adopted Rocky from an abusive situation earlier in 2022. The collie was skittish and had escaped from his new home in Middlesex County. When Rocky was captured he was taken to a shelter in Middlesex County, and though he was microchipped and the chip was properly registered to the family, the shelter turned Rocky over to Crazy Rescue Ladies, the family said in the email.

Efforts to retrieve Rocky from the Crazy Rescue Ladies rescue had been rebuffed, R0cky's owners said.

Ocean County Health Department officials said Rocky, who had been with the county since the Dec. 2 evacuation of the animals from the hoarding situation, was overall in good health in spite of the conditions at the home. Rocky and all of the animals kept at the home have been cleaned and bathed, they said.

"Rocky, a 2-year-old sweet boy, was so excited to see his family for the first time when he was reclaimed from the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson on Saturday," health department officials said.

"The family was emotional and so grateful Rocky was in overall good health and that their loving boy was coming back home - and just in time for the holidays!!" the post said. "It really is a Christmas Miracle!!"

Brick Township Police and the Ocean County Health Department are working to reunite animals who were fostered or who were turned over to Aimee Lonczak or Michelle Nycz, the two women charged in the hoarding situation. People can email photos of the dog or cat and a short description of the animal they are searching for to Brick police at petrescue@brickpd.com. Read more: Seeking A Dog You Gave To Crazy Rescue Ladies? Brick Police Offer Help

Lonczak and Nycz have been charged with animal cruelty and child endangerment, because Lonczak's 16-year-old daughter was living with them in conditions so bad rescuers had to wear hazmat suits to retrieve the animals, who were in cages encrusted with feces and stacked on top of each other. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has said additional charges are pending.

Full coverage:

• Brick Animal Hoarding Case: Questions And Answers
• 180 Dogs, Cats Removed From Brick Home, 2 Arrested: Police
• Dogs, Cats From Brick 'Puppy Mill' Under Ocean County's Care
• How Rescue Founder Hid Brick Animal Hoarding: Fosters, Adopters Speak
• 'Desperate Need': Manahawkin Animal Shelter Asks For Coats, Cash
• 'Nightmare': Popcorn Park Officer Shares Hoarder House Experience
• Hundreds Of Pets In Need Following Brick Hoarder Rescue: How To Help
• Women Released To Await Trial In Brick Animal Hoarding Case
• Donations Suspended As Ocean County Shelters 'Overwhelmed' By Support

Have a comment, a question or a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com.