From the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office …

The Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County SPCA are seeking the public’s help in a potential animal cruelty case.

At approximately 6:15 a.m. on Monday, a Highlands resident was walking their dog in Veterans Memorial Park on Bay Avenue when the dog was alerted by something on the water side of the rock bulkhead.

As the passerby investigated, a black wire cage with a small dog cowering inside was spotted. The cage was on a small portion of sand between the bulkhead and the water. The tide was coming in and the water had reached the cage.

The good Samaritan, a woman who put her own dog’s collar (with tags) on to rescue the dog, climbed over the wall and rescued the dog from the rising tide in the Shrewsbury River.

The dog was taken to the Highlands Police Department where animal control was called and the Prosecutor’s Office was alerted. When animal control arrived on the scene, the empty cage was almost covered by the rising tide. If not for the heroic rescue act of the good Samaritan, the dog could have drowned.