WOODBURY HEIGHTS, New Jersey (WPVI) — A South Jersey dog ​​walker was charged following the death of a dog this week the family dog ​​during the summer, According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.

Trevor Huntowner of K9 Kingdom in Woodbury Heights, was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on several drug charges and third-degree animal cruelty.

(The video in the player above is from a previous post.)

Ashley Jenkins said her family’s 3-year-old border collie-Australian shepherd mix named Harley was dropped off at her regular grooming appointment on July 12.

However, the family’s life suddenly changed when Hunt called and told them that the dog had died in his care.

“He said he died suddenly and his heart stopped, which didn’t make sense because he wasn’t even 4 years old,” Jenkins said.

They immediately called 911 and met police at the scene. When officers arrived to speak with Hunt, he allegedly became “tense” and attempted to delete evidence from his phone, according to court documents obtained by Action News.

He was later taken to the ground after allegedly resisting arrest.

A search warrant at the business later that evening resulted in the seizure of dozens of small plastic bags containing suspected heroin, authorities said. Some of the bags were reportedly labeled “Alien rock” and “House party III.”

In the indictment, authorities stated that fentanyl was among the drugs in Hunt’s possession.

Jenkins stated that the dog did not have any health problems and added, “It cannot be his health that caused his death.”

The family told Action News on Friday that the autopsy did not reveal what caused the dog’s death, but witness statements helped support the animal cruelty charge.

In charging documents, authorities say Hunt, as a caretaker of a live animal, recklessly caused the death of a living animal by failing to provide proper care to the live animal.

He is being held in the Salem County Jail.

Hunt is the new owner of the K9 Kingdom. The previous owner passed away last summer.