Middleboro Animal Cruelty Suspect Turns Herself In

MIDDLEBORO (WBSM) — A Middleboro woman faces 26 counts of animal cruelty following the investigation into her home last month.

Middleboro Interim Police Chief Robert Ferreira said Kimberly Ann Savino, 43, has been charged after she turned herself in today at Wareham District Court. Police had obtained a warrant for her arrest back on October 30.

Savino was then arraigned at the courthouse and also surrendered her animals today.

According to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, Savino pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of animal cruelty by custodian, subsequent offense. She was released on personal recognizance and ordered to have no contact with any animals.

The charges date back to October 18, when Middleboro Animal Control responded to 53 Precinct Street to execute a warrant as part of an animal welfare investigation that Ferreira said was prompted by complaints made by Savino’s neighbors.

A search warrant was also executed that morning by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Law Enforcement Department, in relation to horses kept on the property.

D.A. Cruz said that this past April, MSPCA officers contacted Savino for a routine check on her horses. While inspecting the property, the found her horses to be “significantly underweight” and were being fed with “very poor-quality hay,” according to their report.

Cruz said officers already had concerns about Savino since she was previously charged with animal cruelty in Michigan in 2014 and was ordered to pay about $40,000 in fines for those offenses. In that case, she was found to be keeping 37 dogs confined to small cages without proper hygiene or care.

Cruz said Savino was advised by the MSPCA officers on how to improve the health of their horses but did not follow through. He said that between June 28 and October 16, she canceled and rescheduled at least nine appointments to have the horses weighed and assessed.

While executing the warrant, Middleboro Animal Control officers located 17 dogs, two cats, a turtle and a guinea pig all in need of medical care inside the home. Ferreira said one dog that appeared “unresponsive but breathing and unable to move” was immediately removed from the house.

Police then obtained a search warrant to enter the home, and located the 17 dogs in the basement. Ferreira said they were all in crates and covered in feces and urine.

“It appeared that the dogs had not been out of the crates for an extended period of time and were without food and water,” Ferreira said in a release. “The investigation revealed that Savino would only visit the animals once a week and that no one regularly lived at the house.”

According to Cruz, police officers located the remains of several deceased dogs distributed between a freezer and “plastic casket boxes” inside Savino’s garage.

The house was condemned that day by the Middleboro Health Department, and was determined by the Middleboro Fire Department to be a fire hazard.

Savino is next scheduled to appear in court on December 10 for a pretrial hearing.

Nine of the dogs taken remain in the care of the Middleboro Animal Shelter, while eight are in the care of the MSPCA.

The shelter recently shared that it is in need of donations to help care for the dogs as well as volunteers to help walk and socialize the dogs.

“The dogs are currently recovering well and are mostly nervous and timid while learning a new environment,” town officials said in a release. “The dogs are not currently up for adoption as they are being held during the ongoing police investigation.”

"If you love animals, you are a perfect fit to volunteer and help us as we nurse these dogs to recovery," Health Director Kayla Smith said. "We want to be able to help the dogs socialize and feel loved in our care."

The Middleboro Animal Shelter is located at 50 Joe Ciaglo Way. Donations, including cash, can be delivered in person. To volunteer, call (508) 946-2455 or email Animal Control Officer Racicot at kracicot@middleboroughma.gov.