Woman Charged With Leaving Dog to Die Posts Bail

The Forked River woman charged with animal cruelty after she allegedly left a dog to die in a home has posted bail.

after police investigating a suspicious odor at a Pensacola Road address discovered the dog, Ruger, dead inside a dog crate in the home.

Otte, who was charged with animal cruelty and abandonment, was arrested on Tuesday, June 26 and posted bail — $7,500 with no 10 percent option — through a bondsman on Monday, July 23.

An investigation by Officer Paul Sullivan and Officer Paul Schlossbach of New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals found that Otte moved from the Pensacola Road home and left Ruger, a mixed breed, alive in the cage. Sometime after she moved, Ruger died, police said.

Lacey Township Animal Control Officer Michael San Juan also assisted at the scene.

and a date for arraignment has yet to be scheduled, said Eric Muniz, Criminal Division Manager for Ocean County Trial Court. The prosecutor's office is investigating the case to determine whether to prosecute in Superior Court or send the case back to Lacey's municipal Court.

That process could take a couple of months, the employee said.

In the meantime, animal activists have taking it upon themselves to encourage Ocean County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Robert Scott, who is assigned to the case, to give Otte the maximum sentence. A Facebook Page and a petition were started. The Facebook page currently has 469 likes while the petition has 3,068 signatures.

Scott was unavailable for comment but Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michel Paulhus said the office does not comment on the status of pending investigations.