Kimberly Savino, 33, in September pleaded guilty to animal cruelty of less than 10 animals for keeping the dogs at the home where she lived in the 2300 block of Oakwood Avenue NE, where they stayed in cages allegedly covered in fecal matter and had hinges rusted by urine.
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| Kimberly Savino |
Kent County Circuit Judge James Robert Redford on Monday, Nov. 24, sentenced Savino, who had no prior criminal convictions, to 400 hours of community service along with five years probation.
She was ordered to pay fines and $100,000 in restitution to the Kent County Animal Shelter for the county's cost of caring for the dogs from when they were seized in June until they were forfeited in August.
Savino lost custody of the dogs because she wasn't able to pay the $106,000 that Redford determined it would have cost the county to care for the dogs as the criminal case made its way through the court system.
The dogs, including breeds ranging from poodles to a Saint Bernard, were adopted out to new homes or placed at rehabilitation facilities.
Redford previously heard evidence from county animal control investigators and earlier described the dogs' living conditions as “absolutely filthy and disgusting in nature.” Animal shelter personnel testified that an "overpowering" smell emanated from the home. The dogs were soaked with urine and feces and suffered from skin and dental problems, according to the testimony.
Animal control officers removed the dogs from the home on June 27. A pet-sitter Savino hired and then fired last year filed a cruelty complaint last November, and animal control officers visited the home multiple times after that.
Savino had owned a dog-grooming business near Boston before coming to West Michigan. She testified she took in sick animals that that no one else wanted -- a practice she started in Boston before coming to Grand Rapids specifically because the city had no provision restricting the number of dogs kept in a residential home.
Savino was eventually ordered out the Oakwood Avenue home, where she lived with a couple.
Kimberly Savino’s dogs - A list of her licensed dogs, by breed (Source: Kent County Animal Control)
• Terrier, 6
• Welsh Corgi, 5
• Bichon Frise, 3
• Chinese crested dog, 2
• Cocker Spaniel, 2
• Great Pyrenees, 2
• Labrador, 2
• Poodle, 2
• Australian shepherd, 1
• Belgian Malinois, 1
• Belgian Tervuren, 1
• Chihuahua, 1
• Dachshund, 1
• Dalmatian, 1
• English Setter, 1
• Keeshond, 1
• Labradoodle, 1
• Maltese, 1
• Papillion, 1
• Pekingese, 1
• Pug, 1
• Rhodesian Ridgeback, 1
• Shetland Sheepdog, 1
(MLive - Nov 25, 2014)
Earlier:
- 39 dogs removed from Grand Rapids home; caretaker could face criminal charges
- Alleged dog hoarder arrested, charged with animal cruelty and neglect of 39 dogs
- Put up $106,000 or lose the dogs: judge to woman who had 39 dogs seized from house
- 'Happiest day ever' - New homes will be coming for 37 dogs rescued from alleged neglect case
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