Families Looking For Lost Pets Across The U.S. Contact N.J. Cops After 180 Animals Are Found In House

Brick City Police received hundreds of emails after 180 dogs and cats were confiscated from people accused of keeping the animals in a pet factory.

Brick officers were taking requests after word spread that 135 dogs and 45 cats rescued from a home on Arrowhead Park Drive on December 2 were in Amy Jay's care. Lonchak, founder of Crazy Rescue, a non-profit animal rescue organization. Man Inc., officials said.

So far, authorities have been able to locate and reunite three dogs with their owners, including Daisy Hound, who was reported missing by her family in Tennessee two years ago.

Last week, Daisy's family drove 11 hours to New Jersey to be reunited with their missing pet, and Ocean County authorities contacted them after the family scanned the microchip implanted in the dog's skin before it went missing.

Rocky, a 2-year-old collie, spent two weeks at the Ocean County Animal Shelter before being reunited with his family on December 17, according to the shelter. He has been missing for over seven months.

Coochie, a small herder mix, was returned to his family in South Carolina, Ocean County Health Department spokesman Brian Lepay said.

"They found the dog went to an adopter in Brick House and asked for return after they had to provide identification, vet records and photos," Lipai said.

Lonchak's nonprofit organization, Crazy Rescue Ladies, was registered at Michelle Nitsch's home on Arrowhead Park Drive, where officials said the animals were being kept in dirty and cruel conditions.

Police say they know how Nich and Lonchak obtained multiple animals from across the country, but that information has not yet been confirmed, Smith said.

Lonchak, 49, and Nich, 58, have been charged with animal cruelty. Lonchak's 16-year-old daughter, who was living at the home, was also charged with child endangerment, authorities said.

According to Brick Police Officer Scott Smith, Chief Detective Police has set up an email address - petrescue@brickpd.com - for people to contact if they think their lost pet has been stolen by rabid predators.

Email requests were received from residents of New Jersey, as well as people from South Carolina, Missouri, Illinois and California, Smith said.

Officials said police received more than 80 emails in the first week after the email was posted on the department's Facebook page.

That number rose to nearly 200 on Friday, police said.

The surge in inquiries is partly due to people sharing email addresses on social media to send inquiries about missing pets, regardless of where they are or whether it's about brick possession. Brick representative said.

"It's a shot into the unknown for some people, and I understand that," Smith said. "I don't mind at least turning them off and saying, 'Hey, your dog or cat is definitely not here.' Good luck with your search."

Authorities are asking anyone who suspects the missing animal is among those rescued to provide a photo and a brief description of the animal.

Most of the rescued animals weren't microchipped, Smith says, and when they were, the data was either outdated or out of database. However, Daisy's microchip helped Ocean County authorities locate her family when she was rescued on December 2.

Police questioned animal rights activists who tried to adopt from Crazy Rescue Ladies or surrendered to the organization.

It took authorities 10 hours to remove the animals from the brick facility, and police said the dogs and cats were being kept in a trash can and in filthy conditions. All 180 animals were taken to two animal shelters and many are now available for adoption.

Anyone interested in adopting an animal rescued from an animal shelter should contact the North Ocean County Animal Shelter in Jackson or the Manahawkin Animal Shelter in South Ocean County, both shelters have rescued animals.

"They are all happy, healthy, fully vaccinated, vaccinated, microchipped and neutered," Friends of the Southern Ocean Animal Shelter said in a statement. "Despite everything they've been through, they remain happy, happy, attractive and very loving."

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Naya Marshall can be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com.