The owner of a Florida pet training and boarding business has been arrested after several dogs in his care died suspiciously from blunt force trauma, authorities said.
Nikki Camerlengo, owner of Pawsity Bully Paradise in Palm City, was arrested on charges of animal cruelty after she allegedly killed one of her dogs, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office said the arrests came after a weeks-long investigation into the deaths of Beau, a 2-year-old Cavapoo puppy, Fleury, a 15-year-old goldendoodle, and Mako, a 2-year-old flat-coated retriever.
The three dogs were in Camerlengo’s care at different times and died suddenly of unknown causes, according to the sheriff’s office. All three were in good health before being brought to Pawsitively Paradise.
According to the sheriff’s office, forensic experts from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals examined Beau and Fleury’s bodies in labs in Florida and Texas and made the shocking discovery.
Baugh’s injuries were severe, including a brain hemorrhage caused by blows to the neck, chest, abdomen and genitals, while Fleury also died from an acute cerebral hemorrhage, authorities said.
According to the sheriff’s office, experts determined the dogs died from blunt force trauma, causing prolonged and painful deaths.
Mako, who died mysteriously in 2022, drowned in his own vomit, according to a private autopsy performed by his family after his death. Authorities said too much time had passed to send his body to a specialist for examination.
Authorities said the camerlengo may also be involved in the deaths of other dogs.
“Since media coverage of MCSO’s investigation into Camerlengo, multiple reports have surfaced of suspicious deaths and serious injuries of healthy dogs, primarily under the age of 4, in Nikki Camerlengo’s care, some dating back several years,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post. “Because the dogs were cremated or the deaths were not initially reported, the lack of medical records has prevented MCSO from pursuing the dogs in a criminal investigation.”
Camerlengo was arrested in Fort Pierce and booked into the St. Lucie County Jail, where authorities expect more charges to be filed.
As a condition of his bail, the judge ordered Camerlengo not to own or care for any animals while the case proceeds.
