SECAUCUS AND BEYOND — Martin, Joe and Mary Lewinski pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Secaucus Municipal Court to animal cruelty. The three were charged with animal cruelty, maintaining a nuisance, failing to register their animals, and possessing more pets than the six allowed by town ordinance, after the town discovered 37 allegedly malnourished and dehydrated cats in the family’s home on Centre Avenue on Sept. 26.
Eighteen of the 37 cats were euthanized because they could not be saved, according to officials. The cats were initially discovered after an area gas main break in which residents were asked to leave their homes.