LINDEN, N.J., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A New Jersey woman has been charged after allegedly suffocating her boyfriend's four puppies in a cooler after the two had a fight, police said.
Kimberly Matthews, 26, of Linden, N.J., faces four counts of animal cruelty following the incident Sunday. Police said Matthews and her boyfriend, who was not identified, had gotten into an argument and she threatened to kill the four 5-week-old American bulldog pups her boyfriend was breeding.
Matthews allegedly put them in a portable Igloo cooler and a short time later gave them to a neighbor to take care of. The neighbor said the puppies appeared to be sleeping in the cooler but a short time later touched the dogs and realized they were dead and called police, Linden Police Capt. James Sarnicki told The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger.
The animal cruelty charges each carry a maximum 6-month prison term and $2,000 fine.
Matthews remains jailed on unrelated warrants while awaiting a court appearance on the animal cruelty charges, police said.
