Neptune Man Stabs Dog in Chest; Fined $2,000

A Neptune man admitted he stabbed a dog in the chest during an altercation with its owner in December, said Victor “Buddy” Amato, Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer at the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Eatontown, in a release issued Monday.

Altarik Cullun, 27, of Neptune, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of animal cruelty in front of Asbury Park Municipal Court Daniel J. DiBenedetto.

Cullun was sentenced to pay over $2,000 in fines and restitution.

The charges arose from an incident on Dec. 15, 2012, when Cullun was involved in an altercation with the dog’s owner in the 1400 block of Mattison Avenue in Asbury Park. At some point during the altercation a knife was produced and the dog came to the aid of its owner when Cullun stabbed the dog in the chest.

The dog, an American Staffordshire Terrier, was transported to the Popcorn Park Zoo, in Lacey, where the dog underwent emergency surgery, Amato explained.

Amato credited the veterinary staff at Popcorn Park Zoo with saving the dog’s life.