Rally In Highlands, NJ For Dog Left In Cage To Drown

HIGHLANDS, NJ — There will be a gathering at Veterans Memorial Park in Highlands next Tuesday night, Aug. 7 as New Jersey residents push for harsher penalties for people convicted in this state of animal abuse.

The newly named River's Law was named for the pit bull found Monday, July 30 left in a cage to drown on the Shrewsbury River. As of Friday, no arrests have yet been made.

River's Law calls for fines to be increased and jail time to be extended without an early-release option for anyone in New Jersey convicted of animal abuse. Supporters also want to create a web registry so anyone can search for a convicted offender of an animal abuse charge, no matter the severity.

It's been five days now since River, the pit bull puppy, was found by Highlands resident Jennifer Vaz, 32. The young woman was out for a walk Monday morning at 6 a.m. with her Boxer, Molly, when she and Molly heard something whimpering near a rocky jetty. Someone had put the pit bull puppy on a small sandy beach, trapped in a cage, deliberately left there to drown as the tide rose. The water was up to his paws when Vaz found him.

"He was shivering and the water was rising," she told Patch earlier this week. "It would have been a slow death."

The Monmouth County prosecutor's office is leading the investigation and has not yet made any arrests in the case.

Vaz saved River's life and, after he was checked out by the Monmouth County SPCA and given a clean bill of health, he's now living with her and Molly in Highlands. She picked him up Wednesday.

"Molly has become the mother hen. We have been going for walks, play time, nap time and then they wake up and everything starts again," laughed Vaz. "River is under my care as a foster because the investigation is ongoing. He won't be up for adoption until everything settled down," she said, but added that she wants to permanently adopt him.

Neighbors in Highlands have been wonderful, Vaz said, dropping off dog food, treats and puppy toys for River.

Supporters will be meeting from 5-6 p.m. next Tuesday, Aug. 7 at Veterans Memorial Park in Highlands.

"Penalties for cruelty can be minimal, if pursued. Currently, 46 of the 50 states have enacted felony penalties for certain forms of animal abuse. However, in most jurisdictions, animal cruelty is most commonly charged as a misdemeanor offense," wrote supporters on this Change.org petition about the proposed law.

All photos used with permission from Jennifer Vaz.

Past Patch reporting:

Highlands Woman Recalls Finding Puppy Left In Cage To Die

Dog In A Cage Trapped On Beach As Tide Rose In Highlands