A week after their beloved family pet died at a Gloucester County dog grooming business, a Woodbury Heights family says their grief has turned to anger as they search for answers.
The family does not know how Harley, a 3-year-old border collie Australian shepherd mix, died. But, authorities say the owner of the grooming business was arrested after the dog’s death led to the discovery of a large stash of heroin at the establishment.
Ashley Jenkins and her boyfriend dropped Harley off at K-9 Kingdom in Woodbury Heights on July 12, she said.
Harley is a friendly, high-energy dog and the family has taken him to the grooming business for years without issues, Jenkins said.
The previous owner of the business died last year and the current owner, Trevor J. Hunt, took over the operation this year, he said.
Hunt called the family home to report that Harley had died. Jenkins’ mother answered the phone.
Hunt delivered the terrible news “very casually,” the daughter said.
“Really strange. It seems normal. Like it’s something he doesn’t really care about,” Jenkins said.
The family ran to the business, calling the police on the way.
At the business, police spoke with Hunt, 39, of West Deptford, and saw Harley at a table, according to their report.
When police explained they needed a search warrant for the business, Hunt became uncooperative and was arrested, police said.
An officer attempted to grab Hunt’s phone and he “immediately became tense and attempted to remove evidence from his phone,” police said in an affidavit of probable cause filed in the charges. The officers then “guided the defendant to the ground, where he resisted arrest.”
A search of K-9 Kingdom turned up more than half an ounce of heroin wrapped in more than 60 small plastic bags, labeled with names including “Alien Rock,” “House Party III” and “El Loco, ” according to the affidavit.
The family had to stay outside while police worked, but Jenkins’ parents were allowed inside to see Harley, who was still wet from the grooming, he said.
The cause of Harley’s death remains under investigation, Jenkins said Friday. The dog was taken to a veterinarian who found no underlying medical condition that would explain what happened, he said.
The animal was taken to the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostics Lab in Ewing for a full examination, according to police.
Hunt has not yet been charged in connection with the dog’s death, but he was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and second-degree possession with intent to distribute, along with fourth-degree counts of obstruction and tampering with evidence. He was also charged with resisting arrest, a disorderly persons offense.
He remains in custody pending a detention hearing. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment about the case.
As the family waits for answers about Harley, Jenkins remembers her as “always excited.”
“He loves people. He was very happy. Anytime someone comes in the door, he goes over there and wiggles around, grabs his toy and brings it to them,” Jenkins said.
The family has dealt with a range of emotions since Harley’s disappearance.
“We’re all devastated,” Jenkins said, “but I think now that we know what he was charged with, we know what they found there … I think we’re just angry and we just want justice for Harley.”
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Woodbury Police Det. Nick Cacciola at [email protected] or 856-845-0065, ext. 142.
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Matt Gray can be reached at [email protected].
