Pet Protectors Want Justice For Jenny And Other Abused Animals

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Nancy Warner's phone is always ringing. Whether it's a call, text, or email, she is constantly finding out about animal abuse cases and rescuing animals.

Warner runs Last Resort Rescue from her hometown of West Milford, the same town where a 10-week-old puppy was found dead inside a weighted-down cage in a pond. Someone from the rescue group found the dog.

Warner, a veterinary nurse for 30 years, named the puppy Jenny. And she is fighting for justice for her.

"I'm going to shine a big, bright public spotlight on the story until justice is served," Warner said. "The only thing I can do for Jenny is to pursue justice for her."

Warner wants to see the woman charged in Jenny's death held responsible.

Tonya Fea, 47, of Jefferson was charged with two counts of third-degree animal cruelty and defiant trespass following an investigation by local and Passaic County officials. A complaint summons said the dog asphyxiated due to drowning.

"She should not be allowed to own animals," Warner said. "Does she have other animals? She might, and we're willing to take those rescues into our care, as needed."

Warner is not alone in that desire.

A change.org petition requesting all animals be removed from Fea's home has gotten nearly 9,500 signatures. According the petition, Fea has at least two more dogs living in her home.

Related: Arrest Made After Caged Dog Found In Pond: Passaic Prosecutor

Fea faces possible jail time if found guilty of the charges filed against her.

"We would love to see the maximum punishment be applied," said Warner. "We want to make sure she gets the maximum so that people out there abusing animals might think twice about doing things like this."

Working to end animal cruelty is a three-pronged effort, Hackett said.

"We've come a very long way in animal protection efforts in the last 10 to 20 years," said Brian Hackett, New Jersey state director of the Humane Society of the United States. "We still have a lot of work to do and it's a three-pronged approach: Legislation, enforcement, and awareness."

New Jersey is one of the leading states in regard to animal protection laws in the United States, Hackett said.

"When it comes to legislation, we need to strengthen existing laws already on the books," Hackett said.

Enforcing animal cruelty laws has changed somewhat since last year when Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation disbanding the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Enforcement now rests with county prosecutors offices and local police departments.

Local police departments are each required to have a humane law enforcement officer on staff. The designated officers work with animal control officers to address incidents of animal cruelty.

"We always need to do a better job with enforcement and I think we are well on the road to better enforcement of the laws," Hackett said.

Awareness of animal cruelty is growing, Hackett said.

"There's an increased heightened sense of awareness by the public noticing and being cognizant of, and being willing to, report concerns regarding the treatment of animals," Hackett said. "When we have legislators who care about animal welfare, when we have the right laws that are passed, and we have an educated, well-informed public, that's the combination we need to prevent as much cruelty as possible."

And Warner will keep on doing what she does.

"I don't know that changing laws is the answer, but it's a start," Warner said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com