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Elderly New Jersey Man Charged In Shocking Death Of His Dog

By Steve Beck

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (CBS) -- An elderly New Jersey man killed his dog by sealing a travel carrier and connecting a hose to the exhaust of his vehicle, prosecutors allege.

According to investigators, police were called to the Toms Rivers home of 75-year-old Clifford Robbins on April 14 of this year in response to the death of his dog, Mocha.

When officers arrived, investigators say they found Robbins' dog dead within a sealed animal travel carrier, which had been connected by a hose to the exhaust of Robbins' vehicle.

Toms River Township Officers contacted the Toms River Animal Control department, who responded and took control of the investigation regarding Mocha's death.

On May 7th, officials from the NJSPCA brought the case to the attention of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office seeking legal advice on how to proceed and whether charges were appropriate. The prosecutor's office immediately directed that a necropsy be ordered and opened its own investigation regarding the events surrounding the dog's death.

On Thursday morning, Robbins was served an arrest warrant for the charge of Third Degree Cruelty to Animals. Robbins, after processing, was released. He faces a pending court appearance.

The incident remains under investigation.

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