New Bedford woman sentenced to year in jail for animal cruelty
NEW BEDFORD - A 46-year-old New Bedford woman was convicted of animal cruelty charges after a New Bedford District Court jury trial on Monday, and sentenced to jail, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Korina Ferreira was convicted of two counts of animal cruelty connected to a late 2020 investigation by New Bedford Police and Animal Control Officers, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.
She was sentenced by Judge Joseph Harrington Jr. to two-and-a-half years in the Bristol County House of Corrections, with one year to serve and the balance suspended.
She was also placed on probation for an additional five years and ordered to not own or work with any animals.
The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Karlyn Butler.
New Bedford ACO responded to anonymous call
New Bedford Animal Control Officers responded to a Cedar Street apartment in New Bedford on Dec. 1, 2020 after receiving an anonymous call concerning the welfare of animals. Ferreira was present.
Officer Brandon George and Officer Emanuel Maciel entered the apartment and immediately smelled feline urine, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.
There were three bowls of dog food but no water. Officers were told the dogs could only be provided water in intervals, due to one of the dogs throwing up the water. The officers testified at trial that once the dogs were in their custody, none threw up water.
The defendant told the officers they could not view the dogs because the dogs did not like men and would attack. At trial, Officer Maciel testified that the dogs never attempted to attack.
The defendant also said there were five cats in the apartment that they could not see because they would escape and attack.
Dogs severely malnourished, cats flea-ridden
Officers asked the defendant to sign a consent to search form, which she did, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.
They then discovered that there were actually 13 cats kept in a small bedroom that was filled with urine and feces. Due to the overwhelming smell of noxious levels of ammonia, officers dressed themselves in PPE to conduct the search.
The three dogs were American Bulldogs and all were 3 years old.
At trial, officers testified that the dogs were severely malnourished. “Bam Bam” (one of the dogs), was so malnourished his spine and ribs were visible. Bam Bam also had clear injuries to his face and rump. Officer Maciel testified the injuries were consistent with something continuously rubbing on the dog and compared the injuries to bed sores.
Each cat had to have flea treatment and several of the cats had injuries due to the amount of fleas. Pictures showed that the cats’ litter box was so full of feces, the cats began to use their bed as their litter box.
“These animals were living in deplorable conditions and as a result, suffered extreme neglect that included lack of adequate food, water and care. Many animals provide unconditional love and support to their owners, and to allow animals to live in these conditions is disgraceful,” Quinn said.
A relative of the defendant also faces animal cruelty charges from two separate incidents, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.