Sentenced: NJ Man Guilty of Animal Cruelty After Surrendering 157 Cats, 68 Cats Had To Be Euthanized

[Sugar Cookie]

A Brick man pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of animal cruelty for his failure to provide necessary care for many of the 157 cats and three dogs at his home, said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

Jeffrey Finlay, 56, is expected to serve 180 days in the Ocean County Jail and be banned from ever owning animals or from participating in community service in which animals are involved, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

On May 4, 2023, Finlay himself called the Brick Township Police Department for help in removing “an excessive number of animals” from his residence on Mantoloking Road. Over the next 24 hours, the dogs and cats were taken from his home and transferred to the Northern and Southern Ocean County animal shelters for evaluation and treatment, under the direction of the Ocean County Health Department, the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

At the time, Finlay was charged with failure to provide care for a living animal or creature.

On June 5, 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office and Brick Police were sent the final veterinary reports from the county Health Department on the condition of the animals removed from the residence.

The report stated that 68 cats had “suffered serious bodily injury or had to be euthanized” as a result of Finlay’s negligence.

Brick man pleads guilty to animal cruelty after surrendering 157 cats, 3 dogs

Jeffrey Finlay, 56, called the police himself after he was unable to care for the house full of dogs and cats, authorities said.

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[Sugar Cookie]

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 25, 2025, Jeffrey Finlay, 56, was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation relative to his previously entered guilty pleas to two counts of Animal Cruelty.

Additionally, Judge Palmer ordered that Finlay be permanently banned from animal ownership, and that he must perform 25 days of community service – not involving animals.

On May 4, 2023, Officers from the Brick Township Police Department were requested to respond to a residence on Mantoloking Road – by Finlay himself – for assistance with removing an excessive number of animals from his residence. Responding Officers discovered approximately 157 cats and 3 dogs living at the residence. Over the course of 24 hours, the animals were removed from the residence and transferred for treatment and evaluation to the Northern and Southern Ocean County Animal Facilities, which are under the direction of the Ocean County Health Department. Finlay was initially charged with Failure to Provide Care for a Living Animal or Creature.

On June 5, 2023, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Brick Township Police Department received the final veterinary reports from the Ocean County Health Department regarding the animals that were removed from the residence. The report determined that 68 cats had suffered serious bodily injury or had to be euthanized – all as a result of Finlay’s failure to provide necessary care for the animals. Based upon the report’s findings, Finlay was charged on June 11, 2023 with Animal Cruelty, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On June 14, 2023, Finlay surrendered himself to Brick Township Police Headquarters. He was processed and transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

BRICK TOWNSHIP MAN SENTENCED TO COUNTY JAIL FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY - OCPO

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 25, 2025, Jeffrey Finlay, 56, of Brick Township, was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation relative to his previously entered guilty pleas to two...

ocponj.gov