Case Snapshot

Case ID: 15614

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment, Other, Hoarding

Animal: dog (non pit-bull), bird (pet), other wildlife, bird (wildlife), dog (pit-bull), rodent/small mammal (pet), rabbit (pet)

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3 dogs killed, 16 malnourished animals seized
Fort Pierce, FL (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 27, 2009
County: Saint Lucie

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 4 files available

Alleged: Michele Edna Nunziata

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office charged a woman with 16 counts of animal cruelty after they say she killed three dogs and neglected to feed several other animals, including a black wolf.

According to an arrest affidavit, Michele Nunziata, 40, of Fort Pierce, was keeping 16 animals in her home, all suffering from malnutrition. After the property landlord called police to report a foul order, Nunziata gave a St. Lucie County deputy and two St. Lucie County animal control officers consent to enter her home where they found three dead dogs. Two of the dogs were in kennels, while the other was under a blanket.

Nunziata told deputies she euthanized the dogs herself on Saturday, but was too distraught to remove them from the home. She said her landlord left a euthanasia syringe in her mailbox and she administered four milligrams of the solution to each of the three dogs. Nunziata said the landlord's code to tell her the syringe was in her mailbox was "The snowman has arrived", according to the affidavit.

In addition to the deceased dogs, police found two cockatiels, two ferrets, one chinchilla, two rabbits, one goose, five other dogs, and a black wolf in a kennel. According to the affidavit, the black wolf was lying in feces and was malnourished. Nunziata does not have a permit to possess a wolf.

St. Lucie County Animal Control took possession of all of the animals found.

The arresting deputy wrote in the affidavit that Nunziata consistently altered her version of events. There was no evidence she had been at the house in several days, and investigators did not locate a syringe.

Nunziata was charged with 6 counts of felony animal cruelty for the malnutrition of a bloodhound, a doberman, and the wolf, and the deaths of a bull dog, a rottweiler, and a mixed-breed dog.

She was also charged with 10 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, according to deputies, for depriving three pit bulls, two ferrets, two cockatiels, two rabbits and a goose of food and water.

Nunziata was transported to the St. Lucie County jail. The sheriff's department criminal investigations division will review the case to determine if more charges will be filed.

References

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