The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Pawsitively Paradise in Palm City after a third dog died in the care of the organization’s owner.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Pawsitively Paradise in Palm City after a third dog died in the care of the organization’s owner.
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The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Pawsitively Paradise in Palm City after a third dog died in the care of the organization’s owner.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Pawsitively Paradise in Palm City after a third dog died in the care of the organization’s owner.
Nikki Camberlengo describes herself as a “Nationally Certified Trainer,” with almost 20 years of experience on the website for her business.
According to MCSO, Animal Control issued six civil citations to Camberlengo for improper care. These were related to lack of available shelter and water to dogs at Pawsitively Paradise, which operated at Camerlengo’s home.
The investigation that led to those citations started after a dog died from heat exhaustion in her care.
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“[We] were unable to make a criminal case based on lack of evidence,” Chief Deputy John Budensiek said.
On March 1, Turner Beniot says he received a call from Camerlengo about his mother’s dog, Fleurie.
“She was meant to keep Fleurie for a week and train her not to jump anymore,” Beniot said. “My mom was a board member at Peggy Adams and is very plugged in in the dog world, so I figured she got a new trainer.”
His mother, Nelly, has Parkinson’s Disease and was recovering from a knee replacement while Fleurie was at Pawsitively Paradise.
“I get a phone call from this Nikki woman and the dog wasn’t breathing and she took it to the vet, but they wouldn’t see it because it wasn’t her dog,” Beniot said. “We later found out that wasn’t true; it was because the dog was dead.”
A police report was filed in Fleurie’s death. It was the second time such a case was brought to MCSO, but not the last.
Deep Dive: WPBF 25 News Investigates
“Yesterday we received reports of yet a third dog passing away out there,” Budensiek said. “This dog happened to be under 2 years old, so just a puppy. There is no reason for a young dog like that to pass, so we went back out to interview and do an investigation again. The owner Nikki will not answer phone calls, will not answer the door and has posted online that she is permanently closed.”
WPBF 25 News also reached out to Nikki Camberlengo and did not get a response.
Nonprofits stepped up to fund necropsies of Fleurie and the dog in the case opened yesterday. Investigators are hoping that gives them enough evidence to take this case from civil to criminal.
“Even when we get those results back, we have to have proof beyond a reasonable doubt to make a criminal case,” Budensiek said.
In the meantime, MCSO believes there are at least four other dogs who died in Camberlengo’s care. They want anyone with information to reach out to them.
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