Toms River man accused of killing dog by attaching crate to car exhaust

TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- A man from New Jersey is under arrest and facing animal cruelty charges after police say he killed his dog in a shocking manner.

Prosecutors say 75-year-old Clifford Robbins, of Toms River, was taken into custody Thursday morning and charged with third degree cruelty to animals.

The indictment stems from an April 14 incident in which officers responding to a call of a dead animal found Robbins' dog, Mocha, within a sealed animal travel carrier that had been connected by a hose to the exhaust of Robbins' vehicle.

Animal Control responded and took over the investigation, and control of the continuing investigation regarding Mocha's death.

On May 7, officials from the NJSPCA brought the case to the attention of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, seeking legal advice on how to proceed and whether charges were appropriate. The prosecutor's office immediately directed that a necropsy be ordered and opened its own investigation regarding the events surrounding Mocha's death.

Robbins was served an arrest warrant and was released after processing. He is due in court at a future date.