🔴 180 cats and dogs were removed from horrendous conditions in Brick on Dec. 3

🔴 Aimee Lonczak & Michele Nycz were ordered to stay away from the house and Lonczak's daughter

🔴 They showed up at an Ocean County animal shelter seeking 7 of their own dogs


The two women who were keeping 180 dogs and cats in filthy conditions inside their Brick Township home are headed back behind bars after breaking the terms of their pre-trial release.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said Aimee Lonczak, 49, and Michele Nycz, 58, showed up at the county animal shelter in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township on Thursday demanding the release of their dogs. They were accompanied by Lonczak’s 16-year-old daughter.

A judge previously ordered Lonczak and Nycz to have no contact with any of the approximately 129 dogs and 43 cats removed from their home and to stay away from the home on Arrowhead Park Drive. Lonczak was also to have no contact with her daughter.

A judge on Jan. 10 denied Lonczak's request to lift the no-contact order and their joint request to have seven of the dogs they said were theirs returned.

Dog removed from squalor inside Brick Township home
Dog removed from squalor inside Brick Township home (Ocean County Health Department)
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Accused of lying to get their own dogs back

Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye said the staff told him that Lonczak and Nycz told them they were not aggressive and were cordial.

"My understanding is that they mentioned that they were clear to take them but we obviously did not release them. We would not do that unless we had it from the proper authorities with that. But it's unfortunate that they're seeking out these dogs at this point while it's still an open investigation," Regenye said.

One of the seven dogs they are looking to take back has already been adopted, according to Regenye.

Billhimer said that motions have been filed to revoke their pre-trial release and to return to the Ocean County Jail until their trial. The motions are pending a hearing date in Ocean County Superior Court.

Dogs removed from squalor inside Brick Township home
Dogs removed from squalor inside Brick Township home (Ocean County Health Department)
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Dogs still available for adoption

There are still approximately 30 dogs left to be adopted, which Regenye said is amazing considering the condition they were in when they first arrived on Dec.3.

"Just seeing the progress in just their demeanor and their temperament and just their overall health. They're putting that weight on. They look phenomenal. They really do. And there's still a lot of great dogs that are over there," Regenye said. "If I didn't have three myself, I would adopt another one."

A family from Tennessee is reunited with their Bloodhound named Daisy 12/31/22
A family from Tennessee is reunited with their Bloodhound named Daisy 12/31/22 (Ocean County Health Department)
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Reunions at the shelter

There have also been several happy reunions between pets thought to be missing and their owners who heard about the animals.

A family from Tennessee drove 11 straight hours to reunite with their bloodhound named Daisy after showing proof of ownership through rabies, vaccine records and licensing and vet records

Rocky, a 2-year-old collie, was returned to his family just before Christmas. He had run away from the family's new home in Middlesex County when he became skittish and wound up at the house in Brick where Lonczak and Nycz ran a shelter they called the "Crazy Rescue Ladies."

Rocky the collie is reunited with his family at the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson
Rocky the collie is reunited with his family at the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson (Ocean County Health Department)
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Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

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