MIDDLEBORO — Kimberly Ann Savino, who was charged with animal cruelty on Thursday, previously paid “nearly $40,000 in fines” due to similar 2014 animal cruelty charges in Michigan, according to a report obtained from the Wareham District Court.
According to a police report by Middleboro Police Sgt. Ryan Whiteside, police discovered “6 plastic casket boxes which contained 7 deceased dogs” at Savino’s Precinct Street home. Police also discovered “a freezer in the garage that contained many deceased dogs, estimated to be over 20.”
Savino also possessed numerous living animals of different species at her Precinct Street home.
A neighbor of Savino’s reportedly had been feeding horses living on the Precinct Street property “because she has not been at the home to feed or clean her animals,” a police report said. Starting around “July of 2024,” that neighbor began hearing “multiple dogs… crying, barking, and clawing at kennels,” the police narrative said.
Here are the details from the reports and narratives from the Wareham District Court regarding Savino’s alleged treatment of the animals.
What animals did Savino have?
Savino was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty due to her alleged treatment of the following animals:
- Six horses of various ages, named Anthem, Liberty, Encore, Arizona, Journey and Starlight
- 17 dogs
- Two cats
- One guinea pig
Police also found a turtle at the home, who is now in the custody of the Massachusetts Environmental Police, a spokesperson from the Middleboro Police Department said.
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What condition were the animals in?
According to a police report from Middleboro Police Officer Terry Meleski, the two cats at Savino’s home “were stacked upon one another in crates” in the basement of the Precinct Street home.
“The litter boxes contained a fair amount of feces and urine,” the narrative continued. “The food and water bowls were empty, and one cat vomited over the crate.”
The 17 dogs were also located in the basement in crates. “As we entered the stairwell to the basement, the smell of feces became very strong, ” Meleski wrote. “The crates were lined with newspaper covered in feces and urine. The crates contained no food or water.”
One dog “appeared to be unresponsive but breathing and unable to move,” Meliski wrote. “Most of the animals appeared emaciated.”
According to a different narrative from Middleboro Detective Tyler Silva, a neighbor had been feeding the horses on Savino’s property “sometimes multiple times a day.”
The neighbor “stated that when he first started going, the horses were not provided any feed or water,” Silva added. “Their stable was also filled with muck and manure… the horses were matted and underweight.”
Jessica Priestly, a Middleboro police officer, wrote that: “many of the animals were indicated to be underweight, displaying moderate to severe dental disease, were unkempt, among other diseases or defects.”
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Home declared a fire hazard
Middleboro Animal Control Officer Kevin Racicot wrote in a report that the Middleboro Fire Department “deemed the house a fire hazard.” The house contained “excessive trash” and did not have “smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”
What happened in court?
On Thursday, Nov. 7, Savino turned herself in at Wareham District Court after Middleboro Police had obtained a warrant for her arrest on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
Savino was arraigned Thursday, Nov. 7, in Wareham District Court on 26 charges of animal cruelty. She pled not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. A judge ordered Savino not to possess or care for animals, with the exception of three dogs at her parents’ house.
Similar case in Michigan
Savino was charged with animal cruelty in Michigan in connection with her possession of 37 dogs. Those dogs were kept in small containers and had various medical issues, including urine stained fur and skin, The Detroit Free Press reported.
What happens next?
A pretrial hearing is currently scheduled for Dec. 10, 2024.
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