JOHN CHADWICK, Staff Writer
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
09-09-1997
BREEDER CHARGED WITH SHOVING SHELTER OFFICIAL -- WAS VIDEOTAPING AREA WHERE
DOGS ARE KEPT
By JOHN CHADWICK, Staff Writer
Date: 09-09-1997, Tuesday
Section: NEWS
Edition: 2 Star, Also in 5 Star, 4 Star, 3 Star, 1 Star
The dog breeder who had nearly 50 German shepherds confiscated by
authorities has been accused of shoving an animal-control officer while
trying to videotape the shelter where some of the dogs had been taken.
Bloomingdale Animal Control Officer Deborah Hoskins said that she
called police and filed harassment charges against Joseph Petracca. A
police dispatcher said Monday that a Municipal Court summons has been
issued against Petracca in connection with the incident.
Hoskins said Petracca showed up at the shelter Friday with a video
camera and became agitated when told he could not enter the area where
the dogs are kept.
'I asked him to leave, and he starting flaring up, cussing me and
the whole nine yards,' Hoskins said Monday. 'He then pushed me right out
of the way and proceeded to the back of the shelter.'
Petracca, of 116 Highland Ave., Riverdale, began breeding dogs 30
years ago, but admitted in court that he has become obsessed with
creating the perfect German shepherd. He could not be reached for
comment Monday afternoon.
Petracca had as many as 105 shepherds last month before a Superior
Court judge ordered that he give up his breeding business and turn over
all but four of his dogs to authorities.
Forty-nine dogs were seized on Aug. 27, and about five were being
kept at the Bloomingdale facility when Petracca showed up there on
Friday, Hoskins said. The rest were taken to other area animal shelters.
Hoskins said she believes Petracca was videotaping the shelter to
show the court that the dogs were better off in his care.
A lawyer for the Riverdale Board of Health said Monday that
Petracca has filed an appeal to the judge's last order, but there has
been no response yet from the court.
Hoskins said that, after Petracca shoved her out of the way, he
shot footage of the shelter and left before police arrived.
In court, Petracca has argued previously that shelters are nothing
more than 'concentration camps' for animals.
'I guess he is trying to make a case that his dogs were in better
care with him,' Hoskins said.
She said, however, that nothing could be further from the truth.
'We are feeding them twice a day, and walking them four times a
day,' Hoskins said. 'That is more than he did for any of them.'
Of the 49 dogs seized by authorities, all but 13 have been adopted,
said John Barbarula, the lawyer for the Board of Health. Five or six of
those are receiving medical attention, and at least two have serious
health problems.
Petracca still has approximately 20 dogs on his property, and has
until Sept. 18 to remove them. About 30 puppies were moved by Petracca
to a location outside Riverdale immediately after the judge's order was
issued, Barbarula said.
Keywords: BLOOMINGDALE. ASSAULT. ANIMAL. BUSINESS
Copyright 1997 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
09-09-1997
BREEDER CHARGED WITH SHOVING SHELTER OFFICIAL -- WAS VIDEOTAPING AREA WHERE
DOGS ARE KEPT
By JOHN CHADWICK, Staff Writer
Date: 09-09-1997, Tuesday
Section: NEWS
Edition: 2 Star, Also in 5 Star, 4 Star, 3 Star, 1 Star
The dog breeder who had nearly 50 German shepherds confiscated by
authorities has been accused of shoving an animal-control officer while
trying to videotape the shelter where some of the dogs had been taken.
Bloomingdale Animal Control Officer Deborah Hoskins said that she
called police and filed harassment charges against Joseph Petracca. A
police dispatcher said Monday that a Municipal Court summons has been
issued against Petracca in connection with the incident.
Hoskins said Petracca showed up at the shelter Friday with a video
camera and became agitated when told he could not enter the area where
the dogs are kept.
'I asked him to leave, and he starting flaring up, cussing me and
the whole nine yards,' Hoskins said Monday. 'He then pushed me right out
of the way and proceeded to the back of the shelter.'
Petracca, of 116 Highland Ave., Riverdale, began breeding dogs 30
years ago, but admitted in court that he has become obsessed with
creating the perfect German shepherd. He could not be reached for
comment Monday afternoon.
Petracca had as many as 105 shepherds last month before a Superior
Court judge ordered that he give up his breeding business and turn over
all but four of his dogs to authorities.
Forty-nine dogs were seized on Aug. 27, and about five were being
kept at the Bloomingdale facility when Petracca showed up there on
Friday, Hoskins said. The rest were taken to other area animal shelters.
Hoskins said she believes Petracca was videotaping the shelter to
show the court that the dogs were better off in his care.
A lawyer for the Riverdale Board of Health said Monday that
Petracca has filed an appeal to the judge's last order, but there has
been no response yet from the court.
Hoskins said that, after Petracca shoved her out of the way, he
shot footage of the shelter and left before police arrived.
In court, Petracca has argued previously that shelters are nothing
more than 'concentration camps' for animals.
'I guess he is trying to make a case that his dogs were in better
care with him,' Hoskins said.
She said, however, that nothing could be further from the truth.
'We are feeding them twice a day, and walking them four times a
day,' Hoskins said. 'That is more than he did for any of them.'
Of the 49 dogs seized by authorities, all but 13 have been adopted,
said John Barbarula, the lawyer for the Board of Health. Five or six of
those are receiving medical attention, and at least two have serious
health problems.
Petracca still has approximately 20 dogs on his property, and has
until Sept. 18 to remove them. About 30 puppies were moved by Petracca
to a location outside Riverdale immediately after the judge's order was
issued, Barbarula said.
Keywords: BLOOMINGDALE. ASSAULT. ANIMAL. BUSINESS
Copyright 1997 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.
