Family Indicted For Dumping 40+ Dogs Across North Jersey, Officials Say

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — A family has been indicted for allegedly dumping roughly 40 dogs across three North Jersey towns, officials said.

Joshua Ciemniecki, 19, Francis Ciemniecki, 72, Cynthia Ciemniecki, 50, and Robert Ciemniecki, 74, all from Phillipsburg, face varying degrees of animal abuse charges. Kaila McNeill, 30, of Stewartsville, is also listed in the indictment, and officials said all defendants are related.

The charges come from an incident in March that prompted a county-wide search for dozens of small dogs who had been dumped in three different locations.

Related: Dogs Dumped Across 3 NJ Towns, Police Launch Investigation

On March 16, state troopers spotted eight dogs in a Stillwater Township parking lot, with a black cage nearby. The dogs couldn't be captured at that time, officials said.

For the rest of the evening, more reports of loose dogs and abandoned cages came in from Wantage and Lafayette townships. Two empty cages were found in the woods in Lafayette, police added.

That evening, the weather was rainy, windy, and cold, and a tornado watch had been issued in Sussex County. Additionally, heavy rain and quarter-sized hail were predicted.

Over the next week, police officers, animal control experts, dog shelter representatives, and good Samaritans participated in a county-wide search for the abandoned animals, most of which were Chihuahuas and Jack Russells.

More: Search Continues For Missing Dogs In NJ, And For Whoever Abandoned Them

More than 40 dogs had been dumped, according to officials. Authorities were able to capture 34 dogs, which were taken to local animal shelters. One of the dogs went into labor after being found and died on the operating table. Two puppies survived the birth, and two others did not.

"Many of the surviving dogs sustained serious injuries (including broken teeth, facial injuries, and injured legs)
consistent with trauma sustained from being thrown within a cage," prosecutors said.

At least five dogs were unaccounted for, and two were found dead, one of which was mauled to death by wildlife, officials said.

A months-long investigation found that the Ciemniecki family was responsible for abandoning the dogs.

Related: NJ Trio Who Dumped 34 Dogs On The Side Of The Road Face Animal Cruelty Charges, Police Say

Specifically, Joshua and Robert Ciemniecki loaded cages full of dogs into a Dodge Durango, officials said. Joshua then drove the Dodge across Sussex County and literally threw the occupied dog cages on the side of several roads, according to police.

Additionally, McNeill drove a rented U-Haul van, paid for by Francis Ciemniecki, and threw dogs out of it in a similar manner as Joshua, the indictment says. McNeill and Cynthia Ciemniecki used tape to cover the U-Haul's windows, blocking people from seeing the dogs inside, it adds.

Joshua and McNeill dumped the dogs under the direction of Cynthia, according to police.

Furthermore, investigators discovered a text exchange between Cynthia and McNeill, who are mother and daughter, respectively.

McNeill texted her mother, "M gunna go to jail," followed by a video taken from inside the U-Haul van that depicts a rural backroad and features dogs barking in the background, according to the indictment.

"Delete the video," Cynthia wrote back, and then McNeill did so, officials said.

The family of five is charged with the following:

Joshua Ciemniecki

• Third-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Third-degree animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree animal cruelty

Kayla McNeill

• Third-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Third-degree animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to tamper with evidence
• Fourth-degree tampering with evidence

Francis Ciemniecki

• Third-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty

Cynthia Ciemniecki

• Third-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to tamper with evidence

Robert Ciemniecki

• Third-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty
• Fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty

“The indictment of these defendants reflects our commitment to enforcing the law, protecting vulnerable animals, and holding individuals accountable for acts of animal cruelty,”
Prosecutor Daniel M. Perez said. “Pet owners who are unable or unwilling to care for their animals have responsible options, including arranging for their adoption or surrendering them to a local animal shelter. What they cannot do is abandon animals in the woods, leaving them without food, water, or shelter. Such conduct will not be tolerated."

A grand jury indicted the family on Thursday. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 16.