Pet Store Owners Speak Out Against Just Pups

EAST HANOVER, NJ— New Jersey members of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) issued a statement against Just Pups, calling the allegations of animal abuse "extremely disturbing."

The statement, issued on Monday, is signed by six people from five different pet stores around the state, and condemns Just Pup's "continued violation of the state and local laws protecting animal welfare."

Just Pups, owned by Vin LoSacco, has been a controversial fixture in New Jersey's pet community. The last of his four stores has been placed in quarantine by the East Hanover Board of Health for allegedly importing dogs illegally.

LoSacco has denied any wrongdoing in that case.

"Owners like Vincent LoSacco and stores like Just Pups do not reflect the true pet retailer industry, which cares both for and about pets, and aims to provide pets loving homes. We applaud state and local officials for enforcing the law to weed out bad actors," members of PIJAC wrote.

“PIJAC would like to thank the Township of East Hanover, the NJSPCA, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for shining a light into Just Pups’ illegal and unethical business practices,” said PIJAC President and CEO Mike Bober. “We’re grateful for these authorities’ continued efforts to enforce the most stringent animal protection laws in the country.” (You can read the full statement below.)

>>> Read More: Just Pups Put In Quarantine By East Hanover Board Of Health

The other three Just Pups locations have been shut down for various reasons. The East Brunswick location was shut down last February by the town after three dead dogs were found in the freezer.

Outside of the Paramus Just Pups location, 50 puppies were found freezing in the trunk of a van last April. The Paramus Health Department closed that store pending an investigation, and LoSacco did not attempt to renew that store's license.

A fourth location in Emerson closed last July after its license was not renewed.

>>> Read More: Year In Review: The Just Pups Case

You can read the full statement here:

Pictured: Some of the puppies found in the van outside of the Paramus location, courtesy of the Paramus Police Department.