WARWICK PUPPY HOUSE OF HORRORS: Local Man Arrested and Charged with 25 Counts of Cruelty
WARWICK, R.I. — The disturbing mystery behind the loose puppies wandering along West Shore Road has taken a sinister turn. Warwick Police have arrested 60-year-old resident Rodrigo Moreira after uncovering a horrific scene of animal neglect at a home on 42 Fulton Street.
Moreira now faces 25 criminal counts of animal mistreatment and failure to provide adequate care under Rhode Island General Laws 4-1-2.
The shocking investigation began after neighborhood residents reported dogs left outdoors for extended periods and several runaway puppies roaming nearby streets. When officers arrived at the Fulton Street property, they were immediately met with a stench of urine and waste.
Search efforts quickly led officers to an outdoor shed on the premises, where multiple dogs and puppies were found crammed inside three separate crates surrounded by filth. According to police reports, none of the helpless animals had access to food or water.
After arriving back at the scene, Moreira granted consent for officers to inspect the main residence. Inside, police discovered further appalling conditions, including a feces-contaminated whelping pen packed with puppies and additional crated dogs—all completely deprived of water.
All surviving dogs and puppies were immediately seized from the property and transported to the Warwick Animal Shelter, where they are receiving emergency care and medical evaluation.
