MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A woman faces animal cruelty charges after multiple dogs reportedly "mysteriously" died while under her care at her Florida boarding and training facility.
Nikki Camerlengo, owner of Pawsitively Paradise in Palm City has been at the center of a months-long investigation into "suspicious and untimely deaths" of dogs who were left with her for boarding, training or grooming, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.
On Wednesday, Camerlengo was taken into custody on an animal cruelty charge in the death of Beau, a 2-year-old Cavapoo puppy, the agency said. More charges are expected to be filed against Camerlengo as the investigation continues.
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The investigation began after Beau and another dog, 15-year-old Goldendoodle Flurie, suddenly died "without explanation" after receiving care from Camerlengo. Both had been in good health before going to Pawsitively Paradise about a month apart from each other.
Another dog, 2-year-old Flat Coat Retriever Mako, was also cared for at the facility before his untimely death in 2022.
Martin County Sheriff Detective Christine Polizzi spent weeks piecing together what happened to these dogs, working with ASPCA forensic experts at a lab in Florida and another in Texas. Both Beau and Flurie's remains were sent to both labs for examination.
Necropsy results from both labs revealed the dogs had died due to blunt force trauma, the sheriff's office said.
According to the agency, the report showed Beau's injuries were severe, including blows to the neck, chest, belly and private areas. The trauma causes hemorrhaging in his brain. Flurie also died from acute hemorrhaging in the brain.
Mako reportedly drowned in his vomit when he died in 2022, according to a private necropsy done by the family after his death. The sheriff's office explained his remains weren't able to be sent for forensics to determine why he aspirated and died.
Experts were able to reveal the dogs "did not die quickly," saying that "instead they succumbed to long and painful deaths."
After word about the sheriff's office investigation into Camerlengo surfaced, multiple reports came in about healthy dogs, most of whom were under 4 years old, mysteriously dying or becoming severely injured while in Camerlengo's care. Some reports dated back several years.
However, the sheriff's office said detectives were unable to add those deaths to their investigation because medical records weren't there, due to the dog's being cremated or their death going unreported.
On Wednesday, Camerlengo was arrested in Ft. Pierce with the help of St. Lucie County deputies, the agency said. Detectives said she had recently moved her dog training and boarding business to Ft. Pierce from Palm City once the criminal investigation was opened.
Camerlengo is reportedly out on bond, but a Martin County judge ordered her not to have or care for any animal until further order from the court. While she is currently charged with one count of animal cruelty in Beau's death, the sheriff's office said more charges are expected.
