- Florida, USA -
The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department arrested 20-years-old ANTONELLA RIVOIR (pictured), of Berwyn, Illinois.
Patricia Gutierrez and her husband hired RIVOIR, once listed on Rover.com, to stay in their apartment to look after their cat and five dogs while they were going to be on vacation for thirty days.
Patricia and her husband left on May 30, 2023.
According to the police report obtained by Voice For Us, Patricia left several cameras inside the apartment that only activate when it senses motion and instructed RIVOIR on how to care for all six furbabies, including the administration of their medication.
Patricia told police that from May 30 through June 27, she was in contact with RIVOIR every day and asked her how her furbabies were doing. Patricia said that RIVOIR reassured her that the cat and the dogs were fine and healthy. The report states that Patricia told police she thought “it was weird that sometimes she couldn't access the cameras through her phone to see what was happening in the apartment.”
On June 27, 2023, Patricia called her housekeeper and asked her to go to the apartment to clean it before her return from her vacation. When the housekeeper arrived at the apartment, she found dog feces and urine all over the floor and furniture, she noticed that the furbabies “looked sad and appeared to have lost weight”, and there was no food or water in their bowls. Furthermore, she noticed that RIVOIR's boyfriend, Hector, was there and told her “he was also living at the apartment” with RIVOIR. Patricia told the police that RIVOIR could not do that.
The housekeeper then saw two of the five dogs, Daisy, an 8-year-old Pomeranian, and her sister Lucy, a 13-year-old Pomeranian, “laying down stiff and unable to walk.”
She immediately called Patricia and informed her of the situation.
Patricia instructed the housekeeper, RIVOIR, and Hector to take Daisy and Lucy to a veterinarian in Surfside. Due to the dogs' severe condition, from there they were transferred in an ambulance to another clinic in Aventura. Upon arrival, Daisy was given CPR and sadly pronounced dead shortly after.
Lucy was able to get better. Dr. Kegen reported that Lucy had bruises all over her body and told Patricia over the phone that both Daisy and Lucy were “underweight and dehydrated.” He said he found no fluids in the dogs and added that Lucy's gums were pale and dry.
At that point, RIVOIR “left for an unknown location”, stated the report. She and her boyfriend left their belongings in the apartment.
Meanwhile, Patricia returned on June 28, 2023, and she started checking through the recorded camera footage. According to Patricia, she saw one video where Daisy follows RIVOIR “into the bedroom without a camera, and she hears Daisy squeals in pain; then Daisy is seen limping shortly after.” Patricia believes that RIVOIR intentionally unplugged the cameras at certain times so they wouldn't record.
Patricia then checked the medicines and the food of her furbabies. She noticed that the food bags were only less than half empty, and the medicine had not been administered.
Patricia later took Daisy to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories in Gainesville where Dr. Stern performed a necropsy. Results showed that the cause of death was due to “complications of neglect and severe dehydration.”
Patricia told 7News: “The vet told us, had my cleaning lady come 12 hours later, Lucy would also be dead.”
According to the report, RIVOIR intentionally failed to provide both dogs with sufficient water which resulted in the cruel death of Daisy and the unnecessary pain and suffering of Lucy.
Police charged RIVOIR with two counts of animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill.
Patricia has created a GoFundMe account to honor Daisy’s memory and benefit the Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
RIVOIR’s mugshot shared from Miami Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Additional Source:
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