Neglected Newark Mastiff Adopted After 3 Year Court Battle

NEWARK, NJ — A Korean Mastiff found severely neglected in Newark along with seven other dogs has finally arrived at the light at the end of the tunnel.

Earlier this week, the Associated Humane Societies announced that Hooch – one of several dogs rescued from a dangerous situation in Newark – has been adopted. The happy ending comes three years after the conclusion of a long-running court battle between the nonprofit and Hooch’s former owner, a dog breeder who refused to surrender custody.

The Associated Humane Societies (AHS), which operates shelters in Newark, Forked River and Tinton Falls, as well as the Popcorn Park Zoo, offered some background on why Hooch’s adoption is a big milestone for the organization.

“You may remember the sad story of Hooch and his many Korean Mastiff friends. They came to us way back in the summer of 2016 when they were removed from a terrible and cruel situation where they nearly starved to death, left out in the heat with no shelter, food or water for weeks. We were ordered to hold these poor, sickly dogs until their cruelty case made it to court which, unfortunately, took three, long years.”

AHS staff continued:

“Hooch never lost hope during those three years and since he grew up with us (he was only 6 months old when he arrived) he really put his sad start in life long behind him. He may have been the biggest of the bunch, but he was still a tiny puppy at heart with such a sweetness and innocence about him. We knew once we were free to adopt them out, that Hooch would find a great family. He sure did, and he is loving his new life! He has adjusted just fine to life in a home and we're just so happy for him.”

While Hooch’s story had a happy ending, the tale of some of his companions ended with tears, AHS staff previously said.

One of the two puppies initially found with Hooch died after being found dehydrated and starving. Another of the adult mastiffs, Martha, gave birth to a litter of puppies shortly after landing in AHS custody. Some of those offspring didn’t survive, staff reported.

The other dogs didn’t have an easy road to recovery. Six of them required “extensive and complicated” eye surgeries to correct their severe entropion and other ocular deformities, a challenging task taken on by Andy Wurst of the Barnegat Animal Clinic.

“While we were able to convince the owner to release some of these dogs, he remained adamant about wanting the last four of the dogs back, so that he could continue breeding them, despite the severe deformities that they would inevitably pass down to their offspring,” AHS staff stated. “It was clear to us that to their owner, it was all about the thousands of dollars that he could ask for the adorable, wrinkly, chocolate puppies.”

“We tried and tried to seek help from the NJSPCA to move this case along in order to get the four remaining dogs into good homes, and time after time, we were let down, ignored, and the dogs were forgotten about by everyone that could do something to help them,” AHS staff continued.

“Court dates were set, only to be adjourned so many times,” the nonprofit stated. “Eventually, the NJSPCA was disbanded, and we were really on our own.”

• See related article: NJSPCA Disbanded, Enforcement Now Responsibility Of Towns, Counties

When Hooch got a life-threatening testicular infection, AHS staff were forced to wait for approval from authorities to treat him.

“In Hooch's case, the owner initially refused to let him be neutered, but when Hooch's life became at stake, our veterinarian finally convinced him to allow the surgery,” AHS staff said.

Eventually, the dogs’ former owner was charged with animal cruelty, and the pooches were signed over to AHS.

“Although a case like this may seem minor and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, to those of us that have cared for these dogs, and watched them try their hardest not to give up hope, this is hugely significant,” AHS staff reported. “The dogs are free to live their lives in homes, instead of waiting and waiting for the court system to remember that they even exist.”

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