MICHAEL LOUIS CAMELIA arrested more than two years after the death of his dog

- Florida, USA -

~ Update: March 28, 2022

I was able to get CAMELIA’s case number and learned that he is scheduled to be arraigned on March 31, 2022, at 9:01 a.m. before Judge Jeffrey Gillen.

CAMELIA’s initial case conference is slated for April 21, 2022.

Toyin Isijola has been appointed as CAMELIA’s public defender and Cynthia Cohen is the State Attorney.

~ Original story:

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 69-years-old MICHAEL LOUIS CAMELIA (pictured) and charged him with two counts of animal cruelty.

The arrest comes more than two years after CAMELIA’s dog, a German shepherd mix named Rugby, died in 2019.

Boca News Now reports that Rugby was found in a garage of a residence on Woodchuck Lane, Boca Raton, in December of 2019.

While CAMELIA was a tenant in the home, Rugby was discovered by the property owner.

Rugby was close to death so the homeowner alerted Animal Care and Control and “refused to let Camelia access Rugby until officers responded”, reports Boca News Now.

Officers questioned CAMELIA about Rugby and he told them that Rugby regularly saw a veterinarian.

CAMELIA then said that non-medical personnel told him that Rugby was suffering from “dog wasting disease.”

The furbaby was examined by a veterinarian who reported:

“Rugby presented weak, dehydrated, and emaciated. His body condition was so poor, that most of his skeletal features were visible under his skin. The lack of food material in his intestines, decreased amounts of subcutaneous/organ fats, and severe muscle wasting showed that Rugby suffered from chronic malnutrition. Although Rugby had signs of heart and lung disease that could have contributed to a decreased appetite, it is possible that lack of appropriate food availability also played a role in his overall condition. The presence of dirt within the oral cavity could be a sign of pica (ingestion of non-food items due to poor nutrition).”

The medical report also stated:

“Even so, veterinary care should have been sought when a change in his appetite or body weight was first noticed. Rugby was undoubtedly suffering as his body started to breakdown its own fat and skeletal muscle for energy and proteins. Even if food was provided, it should have been obvious that Rugby was not receiving appropriate nutrition. Veterinary care would have been necessary to either treat the underlying condition contributing to his lack of appetite, provide appropriate nutritional support, or discuss quality of life, humane euthanasia.”

Investigators concluded that “While any reasonable person would look at their family pet and see that they could not eat or drink, and that they were wasting away to just bones, Michael Camelia chose to do nothing but wait to see if Rugby would die.”

Investigators further determined that based on the above facts probable cause exists to charge Michael Camelia with two counts of animal cruelty.

Online records maintained by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office show that CAMELIA was charged with one count “CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - TORTURE INFLCT PAIN SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJ DEATH” and one count “CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICENT FOOD WATER”.

Records also show that CAMELIA was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on the evening of Friday, March 25.

He was able to post $3,000 bond and was released the following evening.

It’s unclear why CAMELIA was only just arrested so I have sent out a few emails to request a copy of the arrest affidavit. I will post updates as they become available.

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