Once-popular dog trainer arrested after animals in her care were mysteriously dying
Earlier this spring, Nikki Camerlengo and her dog training and boarding facility, Pawsitively Paradise, in Palm City, Florida, made the headlines after several otherwise perfectly healthy animals were returned to their owners with severe injuries, some of those injuries resulting in death. At the time, Camerlengo said that she had no idea why the animals had taken ill or how they had been injured. Animal owners weren’t satisfied with her explanations and local law enforcement also took an interest.
Following an investigation into the deaths of three dogs under her care, Camerlengo was cited by investigators for not providing enough water and shelter for the dogs. In March, Camerlengo closed Pawsitively Paradise and moved to Ft. Pierce where she continued to train dogs.
And that’s where she was arrested yesterday.
After months of investigating the suspicious and untimely deaths of dogs left in her care at Pawsitively Paradise, necropsy results from two forensic facilities concluded that the animals died as a result of blunt force trauma. On June 19, Martin County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO ) Warrants Detectives with the assistance of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, located and arrested Camerlengo in Ft. Pierce, where she was said to have moved her dog training and boarding business after MCSO opened a criminal investigation into the deaths.
Martin County Criminal Investigation Detective Christine Polizzi spent weeks trying to determine why Beau, a 2-year-old Cavapoo puppy; Flurie, a 15-year-old Goldendoodle; and Mako, a two-year-old Flat Coat Retriever, all of which were in the sole care of Nikki Camerlengo at different times for training, boarding, or grooming, suddenly died without explanation. All of the dogs were in good health prior to being taken to Pawsitively Paradise.
Detective Polizzi worked closely with ASPCA forensic experts at labs in Florida, then a second lab in Texas, where MCSO sent the remains of Beau and Flurie to be examined. Even though the dogs were in the care of Camerlengo one month apart, the report revealed that Beau’s injuries were severe and included blows to the neck, chest, belly, and private areas causing hemorrhaging to the brain.
Flurie also died from acute hemorrhaging of the brain. Mako, who mysteriously died in 2022, drowned on his own vomit, according to a private necropsy completed by the family after his death. Because so much time had passed, MCSO could not send his remains to experts to determine what caused him to aspirate and die. Forensic experts revealed that the dogs did not die quickly, instead they succumbed to long and painful deaths.
Since Camerlengo and Pawsitively Paradise began making the headlines about MCSO’s investigation into the mysterious animal deaths, multiple other reports emerged about healthy dogs, mostly dogs under four years old, also mysteriously dying or becoming severely injured while in Nikki Camerlengo’s care – some dating back several years. Due to a lack of medical records and because the dogs were cremated or the deaths initially went unreported, MCSO could not include them in their criminal investigation.
As part of a special bond condition, a Martin County Judge ordered that Camerlengo not possess or be responsible for any animals until further order of the court. Camerlengo’s bond was set at $20,000; and if she posts that bond, she will not be allowed to have any contact with dogs.
Camerlengo has been charged with one Felony count of animal cruelty in Beau’s death. Additional charges are expected. Because Camerlengo was arrested in Ft. Pierce, she was taken to the St. Lucie County Jail.
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(Source: Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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