FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The owner of a dog training facility in Martin County was arrested Wednesday after a series of mysterious dog deaths stretching back for years.
Nikki Camerlengo, the owner of Pawsitively Paradise, a dog training, grooming and pet-sitting business in Palm City, faces one count of felony animal cruelty. Additional charges are expected.
She was arrested in Fort Pierce by Martin County deputies and taken to the St. Lucie County Jail. Camerlengo posted bail and was released from custody Wednesday night.
WATCH BELOW: Nikki Camerlengo released from custody
The Martin County Sheriff's Office said necropsy results from two forensic facilities concluded that the animals died as a result of blunt force trauma.
"We're so ecstatic that we're finally able to make an arrest and bring some closure to the families of some of these poor victims," Chief Deputy John Budensiek said. "This was not an accident. This was done on purpose. Why? We don't know. We wish we knew."
The charge against Camerlengo is related to the latest dog that died while in care at the facility in March, a 2-year-old Cavapoo puppy named Beau.
Investigators said the necropsy report revealed that Beau's injuries were severe and included blows to the neck, chest, belly and private areas which caused hemorrhaging to the brain.
"Forensic experts revealed that the dogs did not die quickly, instead succumbing to long and painful deaths," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.
Investigators said due to a lack of medical records, because the dogs were cremated or the deaths went unreported, the sheriff's office could not include other animals in the criminal investigation.
While Camerlengo was no longer operating at the same facility, her website is still active, her voicemail still advertises as Nikki the Dog Trainer and investigators believe she was still working before her arrest.
A Martin County judge ordered Camerlengo not to possess or be responsible for any animals until further court order.
WPTV Investigates
Pet owners whose dogs died said this after trainer arrested
"I knew from when I picked her up something was wrong"
WPTV has spoken to multiple owners of dogs who said their pets died or experienced health problems while in Camerlengo's care.
Deputies told NewsChannel 5 earlier this year that a 2-year-old golden doodle died in late March after four hours in the care of Pawsitively Paradise and Camerlengo, launching the agency's third investigation into the dog training and grooming facility.
Alexis Kaclik went to the Martin County Sheriff's Office on April 1 to file a report on an incident involving the dog training company in 2018.
Kaclik was the sixth person WPTV has reported on who said they have had horrific experiences with the dog training facility.
Kaclik said she dropped off her dog for boarding at Pawsitively Paradise but came back to find her dog seeming to be extremely sick and having trouble breathing.
"I just, I knew from when I picked her up something was wrong, so I had brought her into the vet and she ended up having a partially collapsed trachea," Kaclik said.
Her dog Oakley survived but still isn't back to normal nearly six years later.
'There's No Explanation'
Palm City couple, Dan and Adelle Csontos, told NewsChannel 5 in November 2022 that one of their flat-coated retrievers, Mako, died while in the company's care.
"There's no explanation for that healthy dog to have died," Adelle Csontos said in 2022.
Dan Csontos said he went to pick up Mako, but he was unresponsive with yellow fluid coming from his mouth. The couple rushed Mako to Pet Emergency for treatment. but their pet died after drowning on his own vomit, according to a private necropsy completed by the family.
The multiple allegations of dogs dying in the facility's care go as far back as 2014.
Is Dog Training Industry Regulated?
One of the other issues WPTV has been tracking is a lack of checks and balances in the dog training industry.
Camerlengo has already been cited eight times for improper care of animals, and Martin County code enforcement told WPTV reporter Kate Hussey there is no limit to the number of citations she can get. Code enforcement doesn't have the power to pull a business license.
WPTV also learned there are no specific standards required for dog training. There are no federal or state certifications required, and thus no one is holding dog trainers accountable or enforcing humane training procedures.
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