Rhode Island: Accused animal abuser Rachel Duarte (Rachel Gouveia) was allowed to keep a cat that she claimed was her son's therapy pet. Now she's claiming a seized dog is also his therapy pet

RHODE ISLAND -- Back in January, East Providence Animal Control seized dozens of animals from Rachel Duarte (Rachel Gouveia)'s 26 Floyd Avenue home, including 22 cats and 20 dogs. There has been no mention of her husband Bryan Duarte being charged as well even though he was also living in the residence.

Conditions at the house were so poor that the house was condemned on the spot by a building inspector.

Al Quattrucci, the city’s building inspector, said Duarte tried to attack him and police when he told her he was condemning the house, but an officer “picked her up and dropped her like a missile into the snowbank.”

Duarte pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of animal cruelty and 365 counts of operating as a breeder and pet shop without a license, which is one count for each day of 2017.

Now she's taking her case online, posting on a Facebook group known for having a rule which says no one is allowed to find fault with anyone charged with animal cruelty. In their world, (alleged and convicted) animal abusers are all innocent (or fault-free due to being 'overwhelmed') and are being railroaded by corrupt officials and law enforcement.  In the court of public opinion, this is who Duarte is appealing her case to. That says a lot.

Also, in an earlier article it was said that Duarte was allowed to keep one cat that she claimed was her autistic son's therapy pet.  Well now she's claiming that a dog is his actual therapy pet and she's wanting people to give her money in an effort to get it back.  What about the cat? Was she lying to police when she claimed it was a 'certified therapy animal'?

Check out all the amazing things she claims to have trained the dog to do including guarding the teen when he has an 'episode'. That will not end well if a situation occurs where police respond because this 6'1" teen is in a rage about something and this dog turns vicious; it will end up shot and killed. Of course to worry about this scenario, I'd have to believe she really trained this dog to do all of these things- which I don't.

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Help Bring Luna Sevice Dog Home
Created March 29, 2018
Rachel Gouveia
Animals
GREENVILLE, RI

Meet Luna she is a Louisiana Catahula Leopard dog and she is very special. You see my 14 year old son is autistic and she is his service dog. I trained this dog to aide my child in going out into stressful public situations. Children with autism as many know are easily overwhelmed by the world around them.

Luna's tasks included physically blocking my son when he attempted to elope she acted as a living weighted support if he had an episodes she could block strangers from inadvertently stepping in meaning to help but making the anxiety much worst as well as her physical weight acting as a grounding weighted vest. She could sense his anxiety rising and would alert me and lean into him to provide support. She can help nudge him forward if he freezes and can not move dew to stress. She was ti start training in tracking as well to track his scent in the event he did elope so he could be quickly and safely found.

On January 12th our life was turned upside down our home raided with out a seizure warrent or search warrent. Our beloved pets ripped out of my husband and daughters arms. Many are still being held awaiting my trial. They are beloved pets with vet records that go all the way back to when they were babies. My own dog an adopted french bulldog is also there. They are the only 2 dogs we own both are spayed and up to date.

The loss of Luna has severely restricted my son being able to goto stores movies parks and such. I am trying to raise $3,500 to pay an additional lawyer to represent Luna and her friends so they may return home as soon as possible. My son needs his service dog back and he needs her back now!

  

 

Earlier:

• Rhode Island: Alleged animal hoarder Rachel Duarte's residence is condemned in East Providence
• Rhode Island: Teens, animals removed from ‘deplorable’ East Providence house; Rachel Duarte arrested
• Rhode Island: Social worker who visited hoarder home day before animals seized is now on paid leave
• Rhode Island: Rachel Duarte facing animal cruelty, illegal breeding charges
• Rhode Island: Rachel Duarte (Rachel Gouveia) pleads not guilty to running illegal pet shop

Rhode Island: Rescued Smithfield dogs waiting for court decision; Michael Williams and Michael Ramos each charged with 25 counts of Animal Cruelty

RHODE ISLAND -- The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is reporting that the English Bulldogs and French bulldogs rescued on March 20 from a Smithfield home at 189 Pleasant View Ave. are not available for adoption or foster care due to pending court proceedings.

 

 

The rescued animals included more than 25 dogs and puppies, more than 100 snakes, and rats. They are all in the custody of Smithfield Animal Control and shelters in North Providence and Burrillville.

Thomas Taylor, Smithfield Animal Control Warden, said the local shelter took in a total of eight dogs, four of which are puppies. The RISPCA took in four pregnant females, according to Taylor, because they have more resources to care for the dogs.

 

 

 

Until a decision is made in the case, the dogs will remain in the custody of animal control and the RISPCA, but Taylor said he hopes ownership of the animals is relinquished and the pups can go to proper, caring homes.

“We’re going to wait it out, it all depends on the judges and what they decided. We’ll see if a judge can get them to hand them over,” Taylor said.

 

 

Two arrests were made in the case, charging Michael Williams (aka Mike Williams, Omar Williams) and Michael Ramos (aka Noel Ramos, Mike Ramos) each with 25 counts of unnecessary cruelty to animals and conspiracy, according to Taylor. Reports that the dogs were standing in their own waste were made following the rescue, and the house was condemned.

Taylor refers to the specialized breed as “Little Bulldozers,” and said each dog has a great temperament in spite of their history. He estimated the puppies would have sold for between $2,500 and $3,500.

 

 

Adoption applications are not being accepted at this time, but Taylor said calls inquiring for the pups have not stopped since the arrests. He said until a decision is made, he can’t hold the dogs for adoption either.

Thankfully, he said, the community supported the shelter, and food and monetary donations have not stopped. He asked that any checks be made out to the RISPCA, as they are handling the costs of any veterinary services the animals receive.

“We’re all working together, all the local shelters are working together on this one,” he said.

He said a situation such as this brings out the best in the community, and the shelter is in good shape when it comes to collars and leashes.

Smithfield held an emergency animal shelter supply drive last Saturday, March 24, collecting cleaning supplies, pet food, dog shampoo, leashes, and collars. Taylor said the community “really helped us out,” and it was a great effort.

 

 

(Valley Breeze - March 28, 2018)

Earlier:

• Rhode Island: Animal control removes dogs, rats and snakes from Smithfield home
• Rhode Island: Animal cruelty suspect Michael Williams was already on probation for animal cruelty

Rhode Island: Animal cruelty suspect Michael Williams was already on probation for animal cruelty

SMITHFIELD, RHODE ISLAND -- One of two men charged with keeping more than two dozen dogs in squalid conditions at a Smithfield home faced a judge Thursday.

Michael Williams (aka Mike Williams, Omar Williams), 34, was arraigned on 25 counts of animal cruelty but the judge said the lead charge against him was growing marijuana with an expired permit.

He was ordered held without bail for violating the terms of his probation, which stemmed from a similar arrest last year.

Investigators on Tuesday removed 25 dogs, mainly English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs, from Williams' home at 189 Pleasant View Avenue.

The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) said it was alerted to the situation by a delivery person. Smithfield police said there was a strong smell of feces and urine upon entering the home.

In addition, dozens of rare snakes and more than 300 rats were discovered in the basement of a shed on the property.

 

 

 

Williams was arrested last year on 11 counts of animal cruelty - about 30 dogs were seized at the time - but for some reason the prosecutor's office didn't bother to include "not to own animals" as part of his plea agreement so he wasn't barred from having animals.

And apparently they actually returned some of the seized dogs that he's accused of abusing.

Officials said some of the dogs removed on Tuesday were among the ones seized last year when Williams was charged with Animal Cruelty for the first time.

Investigators believe Williams was breeding the animals to sell. The dogs are now recovering at the RISPCA and various municipal shelters.

 

 

 

 

 

"We got an update in court that one of the dogs that's in the care of another agency is being brought in for surgery this morning, so they did have some pretty significant health issues," RISPCA Special Agent Earl Newman said.

Williams has so far relinquished the rights to four pets, according to Newman.

The second man arrested, Michael Ramos (aka Noel Ramos, Mike Ramos, Michael Noel Ramos), 35, was charged with 25 counts of animal cruelty as well as one count of conspiracy.

As a first offender, he posted bail and was released the night of his arrest. He's due back in court April 3 for arraignment.

 

 

 

(WPRI - March 22, 2018)

Earlier:

• Rhode Island: Animal control removes dogs, rats and snakes from Smithfield home

Rhode Island: Animal control removes dogs, rats and snakes from Smithfield home - same house raided last year

RHODE ISLAND -- The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and animal control officers from several communities removed about two dozen dogs from a home in Smithfield on Tuesday.

The RISPCA said rescuers took 25 to 30 dogs from 189 Pleasant View Avenue. A truck was brought in later to cart away hundreds of snakes and rats. The house was condemned.

Police also took away two men in handcuffs, including Michael Williams (aka Mike Williams, Omar Williams) and Michael Ramos (aka Noel Ramos, Mike Ramos). They were facing animal cruelty charges.

Animal control officers from North Providence, Smithfield, Glocester and Burrillville assisted with the removal of the dogs, which included English Bulldogs and bulldog-mix breeds.

"A number of the dogs were living in crates that were filled with accumulated feces, urine. They were standing in feces. The ammonia level was off the charts. It was very difficult for us to be in there," Joe Warzycha of RISPCA said.

The RISPCA said the men could also face breeding and town violations since they had more than three dogs.

Williams is no stranger to the RISPCA.

 

 

 

ANIMALS SEIZED FROM SAME HOUSE LAST YEAR (!)

The organization was at the home on Pleasant View Avenue last year and took out about 30 dogs. Williams was charged with animal cruelty then.

"We didn't know there were going to be this many today, but he has a history of having a large number of dogs in the house," Warzycha said.

But they found more than dogs this time.

Authorities confiscated hundreds of snakes, possibly worth tens of thousands of dollars if not more, and hundreds of rats, which were presumably bred to feed to the snakes. They also seized several lizards.

“There's no cruelty issues there, but the animals are being seized for safekeeping,” Warzycha said.

 

 

Pure Paradise Pets, a pet store in Johnston, was called in to remove all of them.

"There's geckos in the rack behind you. There's snakes right behind you on the floor in the tubs," Jim Arnold, who owns the pet shop, told NBC 10 News. "We've been moving stuff for 10 hours."

Arnold is providing all the reptiles and rats a place to live until the men go through their due process. The snakes won't be sold or up for adoption quite yet.

"This is more of a courtesy from one snake keeper to another snake keeper," Arnold said, adding that he wants to keep the snakes comfortable and happy.

Williams and Ramos are due in court Wednesday.

 

Authorities said Williams is still on probation from the Animal Cruelty charges from last year.

Given Williams' history, authorities don't want these or any other animals to return.

“He was permitted to have animals [after the last time he was charged with animal cruelty], which we're hoping doesn't happen this time around,” Warzycha said.

 

 

(Turnto10 - March 20, 2018)