Toms River Woman Charged With Leaving Dogs to Starve and Die

Allissa DeStefano

A Toms River woman moved out of a home in Lacey Township, leaving three dogs there alone which did not survive.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of Allissa DeStefano, 29, of Toms River, on three animal cruelty counts.

According to prosecutors, during the evening hours of Nov. 11, Laecy Township officers went to a residence in their town for a report that dogs had possibly been abandoned in the residence. Upon arrival, the officers determined that the house was indeed abandonded – then found the remains of three dogs.

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An investigation by detectives from the Lacey Township Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that DeStefano was responsible for the care of the dogs and had abandonded them in the residence, which resulted in their deaths.

DeStefano was arrested without incident, and processed at the Lacey Township Police Department. She was released on a summons pending a future court date.