Four cats are safe and finding new homes after Asbury Park police discovered them abandoned inside a mesh cat tunnel during a heavy October rainstorm — a case that has since led to animal cruelty and abandonment charges against a 33-year-old city woman.
On Oct. 11, officers responded to an anonymous tip and found the four cats cowering inside a soft mesh play tunnel left on the front lawn of a Summerfield Avenue home. Soaking wet, freezing, and covered in fleas, the frightened felines had apparently been dumped outside like trash, according to the Monmouth County SPCA, which helped coordinate the rescue alongside the Asbury Park Police Department and its Animal Control Team.
"[They were] soaking wet, freezing, covered in fleas and beyond confused about what was happening to them," the SPCA wrote in a Facebook post announcing the rescue. The post described animals that had been "discarded outside like trash" and left to suffer through periods of heavy rain.
How the Asbury Park Mesh Tunnel Rescue Unfolded
According to authorities, police were called to the 1300 block of Summerfield Avenue after receiving an anonymous tip about abandoned pets. When officers arrived, they found a mesh cat tunnel — a soft, collapsible play enclosure typically used indoors for pet enrichment — draped over a concrete wall, with four terrified cats inside.
The animals had been left outside for a prolonged period during a rainy stretch of weather, police said. Their coats were matted and soaked through, and rescuers described them as cold, flea-infested, and malnourished. The Asbury Park Police Department and Monmouth County SPCA's Animal Control team responded to the scene and transported the cats to the shelter for immediate care.
Investigators later identified Breyonna Owens, 33, of Asbury Park as the person responsible, authorities said. She has been charged with four counts of animal cruelty for failure to provide necessary care and four counts of abandoning a domesticated animal. A court date was set for later in October 2026.
Timeline: From Anonymous Tip to Animal Cruelty Charges
The case moved quickly from rescue to criminal charges. Here is how the story developed:
- Oct. 11, 2026: Asbury Park police respond to an anonymous tip and find four cats abandoned in a mesh tunnel at a Summerfield Avenue home during heavy rain. The cats are taken to the Monmouth County SPCA.
- Oct. 15, 2026: News 12 New Jersey and the Daily Voice report that the four cats are recovering at the shelter after being found soaking wet, freezing, and covered in fleas.
- Oct. 19, 2026: The Asbury Park Press reports that Breyonna Owens, 33, has been charged with four counts of animal cruelty and four counts of abandoning a domesticated animal.
- Oct. 21, 2026: News 12 reports that a court date has been set for later in the month, and that the cats are being prepared for adoption.
- Recent days: Morticia, the youngest of the group, is adopted. The three remaining cats are spayed and neutered ahead of becoming available for adoption.
Why the Asbury Park Cat Abandonment Case Matters
The case has resonated widely because of the details of how the cats were left — sealed inside a mesh tunnel with no escape, exposed to cold and rain. Animal welfare advocates note that abandoning pets in enclosed containers is especially dangerous because it removes any chance the animals have of seeking shelter, food, or water on their own.
Under New Jersey law, animal cruelty involving failure to provide necessary care can carry significant penalties, including fines and potential jail time, depending on the severity and outcome of the case. Abandonment of a domesticated animal is a separate offense, which is why Owens faces both sets of charges.
The Monmouth County SPCA has emphasized that the cats were "beyond confused about what was happening to them," highlighting the emotional toll on the animals beyond their physical condition. The shelter launched a fundraising effort to cover the cost of veterinary care, flea treatment, and recovery, seeking to collect at least $30,000 in donations to support the cats' rehabilitation.
For local residents, the case is also a reminder of the resources available through organizations like the Monmouth County SPCA, which operates animal control and humane law enforcement services across the county and routinely steps in for animals in crisis.
Where Things Stand: One Cat Adopted, Three Still Waiting
The four cats have each been identified by name and age as they move through the adoption process. Morticia, an eight-month-old black female, was the youngest of the group and has already found her forever home.
The three remaining cats are all two-year-olds and are now ready for adoption after being spayed and neutered: Delilah, a two-year-old female tabby; Matisse, a two-year-old black male; and Autumn, a two-year-old female tabby-white mix. Shelter staff have described the cats as friendly and recovering well after receiving the love and medical care they had been missing.
Anyone interested in adopting Delilah, Matisse, or Autumn can contact the Monmouth County SPCA directly or visit their facility to meet the cats in person.
What Happens Next for the Asbury Park Cats
The immediate focus is on the three cats still awaiting homes. With their stray holds complete and their medical care underway, the shelter is working to match each cat with an adoptive family. Adoptions like Morticia's offer hope that the remaining trio will quickly follow.
On the legal side, Owens is expected to appear in court later in October to face the animal cruelty and abandonment charges. The outcome of that case will be watched closely by animal welfare advocates, who often use high-profile abandonment cases to push for stronger enforcement of animal protection laws.
For now, the story's most important chapter is a hopeful one: four cats who were left to suffer in the rain are alive, cared for, and on their way to safe homes.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways
- Four cats were found abandoned in a mesh cat tunnel in Asbury Park, NJ on Oct. 11, 2026, during heavy rain, after an anonymous tip led police to the scene.
- The cats were soaking wet, freezing, covered in fleas, and malnourished when the Asbury Park Police and Monmouth County SPCA rescued them.
- Breyonna Owens, 33, faces four counts of animal cruelty and four counts of abandoning a domesticated animal, with a court date set for late October 2026.
- Morticia, the 8-month-old kitten, has already been adopted; Delilah, Matisse, and Autumn — all two-year-olds — are now available for adoption through the Monmouth County SPCA.
