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Animal welfare

Obituaries
'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33 'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33
'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33 The world lost an extraordinary spirit on Friday, Dec. 27, with the passing of Maggie Kudirka, lovingly known as the "Bald Ballerina. "Maggie, 33, succumbed to metastatic breast cancer at her home, surrounded by family, loved ones shared on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maggie Kudirka (@baldballerina) The Joffrey Ballet School, where Maggie trained, mourned her loss, calling her a “beautiful warrior.” “Maggie’s passion and grace will forever inspire us,” they wrote, reflecting on her profound impact on the dance and c…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'Sopranos' Star Seeks To Stop NJ's 'Puppy Mill Pipeline' 'Sopranos' Star Seeks To Stop NJ's 'Puppy Mill Pipeline'
'Sopranos' Star Seeks To Stop NJ's 'Puppy Mill Pipeline' Edie Falco is standing up for her four-legged friends in the Garden State. The Emmy Award-winning actress, who played Carmela Soprano on the iconic New Jersey show “The Sopranos” appeared in a video for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals urging lawmakers and New Jerseyans to support a bill in the state Legislature that would ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet shops. New York passed a similar law in 2022. “Before I adopted my beloved dog Sami, she was rescued from a puppy mill, where she lived in a small dirty cage, with no space to run and play, and ha…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Man Who Had 157 Cats At Home Indicted, Prosecutors Say Jersey Shore Man Who Had 157 Cats At Home Indicted, Prosecutors Say
Jersey Shore Man Who Had 157 Cats At Home Indicted, Prosecutors Say A Brick Township man was indicted after more than 150 cats were found in his home, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 56-year-old Jeffrey Finlay on Wednesday, Aug. 28 for 149 counts of animal cruelty, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Finlay called Brick police to help remove the animals from his house on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Officers found about 157 cats and three dogs at the Mantoloking Road home. It took crews about 24 hours for the pets to be removed and brought to county animal facilities for treatment. Finlay was first charge…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Intruder Breaks Into Tiger Enclosure, Nearly Gets Bitten At South Jersey Zoo (VIDEO) Intruder Breaks Into Tiger Enclosure, Nearly Gets Bitten At South Jersey Zoo (VIDEO)
Intruder Breaks Into Tiger Enclosure, Nearly Gets Bitten At South Jersey Zoo (Video) Police in South Jersey are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a woman who hopped the fence at a local zoo to interact with a tiger. Video shared by Bridgeton police on Tuesday, Aug. 20 shows the incident from the tiger exhibit at the Cohanzick Zoo. Officers didn't say when the incident happened. The 16-second clip shows the female putting her hand through wire fencing and trying to pet the tiger. The big cat then appears to try biting the female's hand and starts frantically pacing. The female then backs away from the wiring and climbs back over the wooden fence on the o…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Cruel Man Who Hurled Dogs Over Fence Of NJ Animal Shelter Arrested, Police Say Cruel Man Who Hurled Dogs Over Fence Of NJ Animal Shelter Arrested, Police Say
Cruel Man Who Hurled Dogs Over Fence Of NJ Animal Shelter Arrested, Police Say The man seen hurling dogs over the fence of the Atlantic County Animal Shelter has been arrested, police said, Jahlil McNeal, 23, of Atlantic City, was identified by city police as the man captured in disturbing footage throwing dogs over the fence at the county animal shelter and leaving. McNeal has been charged with four counts of cruelty to animals, failure to provide care to animals, two counts theft of services, and witness tampering. McNeal first abandoned an animal at the shelter after hours on July 15, police said. ACPD's Humane Law Enforcement Officer, Matthew Schmidt, initia…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
South Jersey Cockfighting Ringleader Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty Charges, Prosecutors Say South Jersey Cockfighting Ringleader Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty Charges, Prosecutors Say
South Jersey Cockfighting Ringleader Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty Charges, Prosecutors Say An Egg Harbor City man admitted to running an elaborate cockfighting ring at his home, authorities said. Jose Madera, 33, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Aug. 6 to several animal cruelty charges and other offenses, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. A judge had ordered him to remain in jail to await a trial on Tuesday, Mar. 19. Prosecutors said Madera's plea deal calls for him to spend 364 days in county jail and receive up to five years of probation. He would also be banned from owning animals or living with them. Galloway Township police uncovered t…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Pumpkin-Snacking Snow Leopard Dies After Spending Senior Years At Jersey Shore Animal Refuge Pumpkin-Snacking Snow Leopard Dies After Spending Senior Years At Jersey Shore Animal Refuge
Pumpkin-Snacking Snow Leopard Dies After Spending Senior Years At Jersey Shore Animal Refuge An elderly snow leopard has died after spending about four years at an Ocean County animal sanctuary, officials said. A male snow leopard named Ty died from old age, Popcorn Park Animal Refuge said in a Facebook post on Thursday, Aug. 1. He was 14 years old when he arrived at the Lacey Township sanctuary in 2020. Popcorn Park said it was honored to care for Ty in his final years. "It is a privilege to provide refuge for animals in their golden years, those with medical needs, and any animal in need that comes through our doors," the park said. "Ty was a very special senior b…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass
Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass She devoted her life to those in need and put others first. She was "the glue that held her family and friends together." And at only 44 years old, Jersey City Police Lt. Marina Angelica Ugolini is gone far too soon. Ugolini died Tuesday evening, May 28. The 19-year department veteran, who was promoted to lieutenant six years ago this month, worked in the city's North District. Ugolini was an alumnus of Jersey City Medical Center and Ambucar EMS who "took pride in helping people by devoting her life to serving those in need," her obituary says. "She transported the first medical …

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by Jerry DeMarco