The odor of death reeked: Fort Pierce woman charged with animal cruelty for dead and starving animals in home
June 30th, 2009 by TCPalm.com
Michele Nunziata
FORT PIERCE — It was the stench that betrayed something was wrong.
So on Monday night, Michele Nunziata’s landlord called the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and reported his concerns.
When investigators showed up at the home in the 900 block of North Kings Highway, they found a grim scene.
Three dead dogs locked up in kennels. A black wolf locked up in feces and starving. A Doberman pinscher in the same condition.
There were other animals. Three skinny pit bulls running loose in the house. A bloodhound reported to be malnourished, two cockatiels and two ferrets – all without sufficient food – and a chinchilla with food and water.
Investigators also found veterinary medicine and piles of feces scattered on the dining room floor.
Nunziata, 40, was booked into the St. Lucie County jail on Monday and is being detained in lieu of $42,500 bail. She faces 16 counts of animal abuse charges and one charge of having the wolf without a permit.
Nunziata told investigators that she had put down the dogs on Saturday and had been too distraught to remove their bodies.
The malnurished bloodhound reportedly removed from Nunziata's home.
She said she had received the euthanasia from her landlord, who had called to tell her that the syringes where in her mailbox ready for use by saying in code, “The snowman had arrived.”
The surviving animals — which also included two rabbits and a goose kept outside — were taken to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County shelter for treatment, sheriff’s officials said. On Tuesday detectives were assigned to further investigate the case.
The wolf that Nunziata allegedly kept without a permit.
Tags: arrest, bulldog, business, death, deputies, deputy, Doberman pincher, dog, dogs, felony, food, goose, Michele Nunziata, misdemeanor, North, rabbit, sheriff, sick, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, water, woman, yard
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June 30th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Lock this sick, too busy woman, in a cage, don’t feed her, let her lay in her own crap. She should suffer like the suffering she caused on a helpless animal.. People like her make me sick..
June 30th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
THIS WOMAN SHOULD ROTT IS HELL. I HOPE SHE DIES A HORRIBLE DEATH. ANIMAL ABUSERS SHOULD ALL SUFFER IN HELL. LOCK HER UP, LET HER STARVE.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
What a sick suck person! She couldn’t have been to busy to leave those poor helpless animals without food and water long enough to die!!! She needs to get a taste of her own medincine and rot in Jail without food or water!! I wiah we could do that!!! People like her just don’t deserve a second chance or to be lving at all!
June 30th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
People like her make me sick. Hopefully they can save some of the animals.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I agree with all of the above! What she did nauseates me. She is a sick being that should be treated the same way she treated those innocent defenseless animals. What a despicable person…nice way of saying it “SCUMBAG”!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Why do people have animals if they are not going to care for them??? I say put her in a cage and don’t give her any food/water for a couple of days…let’s see how she feels. I have a dog and a cat and would love them to death. I hate the people who abuse animals…it makes me sick..
June 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
OMG!!This women needs to be punished for hurting innocent animals!!!How could anyone human being be so mean???I pray for the animals not to be in pain!!!!The perp needs to be punished to the max!!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:47 am
There are some people who really believe they are caring for dogs, when in fact they haven’t got a clue, how to take care of them selves, much less an animal. Unfortunately, the animals are the ones who suffer for these peoples ignorance. If we are going to take away an animals freedom and ability to fend for itself, then we are to be responsible for their well being. I am grateful to the officers who saved these dogs and the citizens who reported this abuse.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Now if she had several abortions she’d just be jane down the street. People’s priorities amaze me.. Kill humans and punish the dog killer…? Go to eastern countries where they are eating dogs..
1.2 million abortions / murders in this country every year.. !!
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
charles you are an idiot to make such a statement,we are talking animal abuse, and neglect, sounds like you are very familiar with such things.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
please, do not be judgmental. This woman has always been a caring individual her entire life. She would never hurt a human beings, animal, and is a very caring person to all. She needs help and support. Her family loves her very much. We hope she gets the help she desperately needs. Hopefully, the government will allow access for Michele to see her doctors and get health insurance coverage. For heaven’s sake, stop the hateful blogs about Michele and try to understand her circumstances. I am her sister. I know her, I love and her and believe in her, for she is a good person, just do not make a character assasination unless you have walked in her shoes.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
please, do not be judgmental. This woman has always been a caring individual her entire life. She would never hurt a human being or animal. She is a very caring person to all. She needs help and support. Her family loves her very much. We hope she gets the help she desperately needs. Hopefully, the government will allow access for Michele to see her doctors and get health insurance coverage. For heaven’s sake, stop the hateful blogs about Michele and try to understand her circumstances. I am her sister. I know her, I love and her and believe in her, for she is a good person, just do not make a character assasination unless you have walked in her shoes.
July 4th, 2009 at 11:25 am
help michele: If your sister is in such need of help and you love her so much, YOU should have stepped up and helped her. You neglected to do so and she TORTURED animals. Don’t expect people not to judge her cruelty to animals because she “needs help” when you, her own family, did nothing while she tortured these animals. These animals were HELPLESS. Your sister was NOT!
July 13th, 2009 at 12:29 am
This is my mother you people have no clue what the hell you are talking about so do us all a favor and shut up.keep your rude and snide remarks to yourself,you do not know her and you do not know the circumstances.She did not starve those animals if you knew anything about dogs you would know wolves are not fat animals infact they are lean,the pitbulls are puppies and go through growth spurts just like your children do.The bloodhound came from a terrible home and looks 10 times better than she did when my mother got her.Keep your nasty comments to yourself,you have no clue.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I’ve known Michele for years and this is not like her at all. Obviously she needs help. But her family all live in NE so slamming them for not helping is wrong. Nobody knew this was happening. If they did they would have stepped in. It’s hard to help someone that doesn’t tell you they need it. It’s not like they visited,saw what was happening and just walked away, they live in completely different parts of the country.Unfortunately technology still doesn’t allow you to see through the phone. I’m not saying what she did was right by any means, but attacking her family doesn’t help anyone. I talked to her and I never knew anything was wrong.