The Paramus store reopened Tuesday.
PARAMUS -- Just Pups in Paramus re-opened Tuesday, a little more than a day after police say they found more than 50 puppies unattended in a van outside the pet store.
Vincent LoSacco, the owner of the store, said Just Pups opened Tuesday after the Paramus Board of Health and Tyco Animal Control inspected the store Monday. He disputed most of what police said about the conditions inside the van.
The store was closed after two Paramus Police Officers found 67 puppies inside an unattended van outside the store at 3 a.m. Monday. Paramus Police said the puppies were kept in undersized crates, that the van was cold and that some puppies were covered in feces.
Tyco Animal Control took possession of most of the puppies, aside from four under evaluation at Oradell Animal Hospital. Carol Tyler, senior animal control officer for Tyco, said the investigation into Just Pups was ongoing. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is also investigating.
Tyco has received dozens of calls asking of the puppies are up for adoption. They are not.
50 puppies found in van outside pet store
"If this changes, we will notify the press," Tyler said. She said the puppies were in good condition, aside from four under observation at Oradell Animal Hospital.
LoSacco said the puppies were driven legally from Missouri. LoSacco customized the van to transport dogs, and has used it for six years.
It's insulated and has a propane heater that doesn't require ventilation, LoSacco said. The reason police said it was cold--AAthey said it was 38 degrees inside--AAis because the door had been open for a while before they took the temperature.
LoSacco also said the crates were large enough for six dogs. Police said there were two to four in each. LoSacco said he groups the dogs by litter, and that the were seven empty crates in the van.
"There would be no reason at all to overcrowd because the van wasn't near to capacity," he said.
A driver took the van from Missouri to Paramus and left it until 7 a.m., when store employees were scheduled to show up, LoSacco said. A veterinarian was also due to examine the dogs at 10 a.m. He's not sure when the driver arrived, but said it's not illegal to leave animals unattended in a vehicle.
He said it's possible some of the crates would have run out of food and water between when the driver left and the morning, but said the dogs were fed three times a day.
"There's no way they went for any more than a few hours at max without food and water because they're always topped," LoSacco said.
As for the dogs being covered in feces, LoSacco said they likely defecated while the van was towed to Oradell Animal Hospital. He saw the van on a flatbed truck when he was called to the hospital.
"When I arrived the van was on a 45 degree angle and the passenger side door was open," he said.
The story of the puppies has sparked an outcry against LoSacco. His store in East Brunswick had its license revoked after he was charged 267 times with animal cruelty. LoSacco said the charges stemmed from one inspection.
"People are passionate about it and rightfully so," he said. "We've never abused or neglected our puppies. I myself and the people that work for me love animals and we go to huge extents to take care of them and keep them healthy."
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.