Rescue Watch
Christine Yurgel, Pound Puppy Protection Rescue
December 6, 2011 - According to complaints filed with the NJSPCA, Christine Yurgel sold several sick puppies (pictured left) to families at the North Brunswick PetSmart located on Route 1. Several families reported the puppies tested positive for Parvo; two of the puppies died and a third recovered after extensive treatment. The NJSPCA Police issued 5 animal cruelty charges against Yurgel, with potential fines of $5,000 and/or jail time. Her first appearance in North Brunswick Municipal Court is scheduled for December 21, 2011. The public is asked to call the NJSPCA hotline at 1-800-582-5979 with any information and leave a message for Officer Fraler.
Earlier this year, in response to numerous complaints of sick puppies, Yurgel was reported to South Plainfield officials who determined she was operating an unlicensed kennel. She was ordered to cease and desist on January 3, 2011 and was not permitted to sell/adopt any dogs from her home. Yurgel appeared in municipal court on February 9, pled guilty to operating an unlicensed dog kennel and paid a $350 fine.
Yurgel soon finagled her way into the North Brunswick PetSmart, claiming she was a non-profit. We notified the manager Sue and PetSmart Charities back in July and provided both, at their request, documentation on complaints and the names of almost ten previous victims, none of whom were ever reimbursed for veterinary expenses or adoption fees, despite promises by Yurgel. No action was taken by PetSmart until November 2011, when more complaints of sick and dying Parvo puppies came to light.
Yurgel may be living in Manville and advertising dogs and puppies under the name Christine Pearson.
Update: March 21, 2012 - Christine Yurgel, pled guilty to animal cruelty; 20 year ban imposed
Yurgel pled guilty to animal cruelty on March 21, 2012 in North Brunswick Municipal Court. She was ordered to pay $500 in fines, $100 restitution to the NJ SPCA, and reimbursement of all vet medical expenses incurred by the families who purchased the sick puppies.
Yurgel is also banned from owning, operating, promoting, advertising, working or participating in any animal adoptions or sales, housing and/or fostering animals for a period of 20 years! She is also restricted to owning 2 animals for personal use for 20 years.
Jessica Bliss / Wyndsor Adoptions / Cadiz, Kentucky
Actually located in Cadiz, Kentucky but advertised on Adopt-a-Pet under New Canaan, CT. Previously advertised puppies in Waverly, NY and Meridian, CT. Formerly operated as Castaways All Breed Rescue in Clarksville, TN, and Southpaw Rescue, Wyndsor K9 Rescue, and Southern Castaways, Cadiz, KY.
Operating as Southern Castaways, on Saturday, April 30, 2011, Bliss, pictured left, transported 21 puppies to a Bedminster, New Jersey Burger King parking lot and to Waterbury, Connecticut. Several underaged Boston Terrier puppies were soon diagnosed with Parvo and two died within 24 hours. Bliss told adopters that the others in the litter also died of Parvo. None of the puppies were delivered with interstate health certificates certifying them to be free of contagious diseases, which is required under NJ law. None of Bliss’s victims were ever reimbursed for their exorbitant veterinary expenses, despite promises by Bliss to do so “as soon as she adopted out more puppies.”
Jessica Bliss is alleged to be a “volunteer” with Wyndsor Adoptions and Transport Team (website now disabled). Adopt-a-Pet listings say transport from Cadiz, KY to the Northeast is available for an additional $150 fee.
Bliss may also use the name Jessica Teague. She advertises puppies, mostly very young purebreds, which she states are located in Cadiz, KY. She claims she has “adopted out over 4,000 puppies in the last 6 years.” According to KY sources, Bliss is alleged to be brokering puppies for a backyard breeder, which might explain the high volume of purebred and "high-mix" puppies.
NC alleged rescuer Jessica Isenhour / Saving Fur Kids charged by the NJSPCA
Oct 24, 2011 - After a 4 month investigation of a deadly outbreak of parvo in Hunterdon County, the NJ SPCA Police charged Jessica 
Isenhour of “Saving Fur Kids" with 15 counts of animal cruelty violations. The alleged rescue from North Carolina transports puppies across state borders to NJ where she keeps them at a foster home in Lambertville, NJ and in some cases sold cats and dogs at local pet shops and parking lots. Several of the puppies Isenhour transported for sale had parvo and other illnesses. Isenhour is due to appear in Lambertville court on December 21, 2011. (Source: NJSPCA)
Isenhour, pictured at right, delivering dogs at Tractor Supply last winter, claims to operate out of Clinton NJ, using a UPS store post office box and cell phone to make it appear she is based here. She lives in Newton, North Carolina and drives dogs to NJ in her Lexus SUV. Isenhour meets adopters in parking lots to hand over dogs and puppies. Also goes by Jennifer, and advertises on Adopt-a-Pet. When several puppies died of Parvo soon after adoption, Isenhour denied any responsibility for the veterinary bills and refused to refund the adoption fees.
Update: April 19, 2012 - Isenhour settle case, pleads guilty to one charge, 5 year ban imposed
Jessica Ann Isenhour, owner of a so called “animal rescue” operating out of North Carolina pled guilty to one count of animal cruelty - 4:22-26 m - Endangering the welfare of animals by operating a business at roadside stand – received a 5 year ban on any interactions with animals in the State of New Jersey, was fined $500 and was ordered to pay $1500 in restitution to a Pennsylvania family that purchased a dog from Isenhour.
On October 18, 2011, the NJ SPCA filed fifteen counts of animal cruelty against Isenhour. Following a four month investigation, officers from the NJSPCA found that the alleged animal rescue operation, based in Newton, North Carolina, was transporting puppies across state lines into New Jersey where those animals were sold. The NJSPCA found that several of the animals had Parvo and other illnesses and many of those animals died as a result. New Jersey state law requires that pet dealers have each animal examined by a licensed New Jersey veterinarian prior to the sale of that animal. Ms. Isenhour failed to provide veterinarian examinations by a NJ licensed veterinarian prior to selling her animals.
Previous Media Coverage
SPCA: "Rescue" was front for a puppy mill
Stories shine spotlight on rescue crisis
Newton, NC woman charged with animal cruelty
Dogs sold illegally for profit in Northeast US - Abuse of animal rescue system
Other Rescue News
NBC 10's I Team Investigation / Rhode Island's Help Save One, Marissa Stracaluzi
Part 1, May 1, 2012
Marissa Stracaluzi and the NC Connection
Part 2, May 2, 2012
Other NJ "Rescues" and Rescue Hoarders
Mayme Puccio
Dawn Scheld
Joanne Zak
NJ has a number of brokers posing as dog rescuers and several out-of-state groups claiming to be NJ-based.