More than 312 cats, 71 dogs and other small animals, were illegally euthanized throughout 2015.
CAMDEN -- The Gloucester County Animal Shelter is facing animal cruelty allegations in a lawsuit filed by the owner of a cat that was illegally euthanized, according to the Courier Post.
Moe, a cat owned by Stephanie Radlinger of Stratford, was euthanized at the Gloucester County animal shelter Oct. 1. (photo provided)Stephanie Radlinger -- the owner of Moe, an orange tabby that was put to sleep too soon -- and Stuart Goldman, a Monmouth County SPCA officer, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Camden on Aug. 1, according to the Courier Post.
Radlinger and Goldman are accusing the shelter and its employees of animal cruelty, according to the Courier Post. In September, Radlinger's cat, which was micro-chipped, went missing. When she was alerted a few days later that it was at the animal shelter, she learned he had already been euthanized prior to the seven-day holding period required by law.
Complaints about the shelter's practices prompted the state to investigate in October 2015, where they found that 312 cats, 71 dogs a rabbit had been euthanized that year before the holding period expired.
Gloucester County did not immediately return a request for comment, and they declined to talk about pending litigation with the Courier Post.
Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.