PALM CITY, Fla. — The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a dog training facility in Palm City after deputies say a second dog died in the trainer’s care.
Turner Benoit said her mother, Nellie Benoit, paid Pawsitively Paradise to train her golden doodle, Flurry, for a week while she underwent knee surgery.
By John Bry/WPTV
On Saturday, Benoit said he received a call from the owner of the facility, who told him the dog was unresponsive.
“I was like, ‘Hold on, so you’re telling me the dog’s dead?’ and he was like ‘Yeah, I think he is.’ I couldn’t believe it,” Benoit said.
Benoit said the dog was young and healthy with no pre-existing conditions before being placed in the dog trainer’s care.
“There was nothing wrong with her, she was running around like crazy. I don’t know what happened,” Benoit said.
Benoit said he did not suspect any wrongdoing until he saw a news article about a similar situation occurring at the facility more than a year ago.
“Someone sent me a news article about what happened in the past,” Benoit said.
“What was your reaction when you saw that article?” WPTV reporter Kate Hussey asked.
“Anger,” Benoit said.
In November 2022, WPTV reported on a previous investigation launched by the sheriff’s office at Pawsitively Paradise, which was prompted when a couple, Dan and Adelle Csontos, filed a report against the facility, telling deputies that the one of their flat-coated retrievers died while in the company’s care. .
The Csontos told WPTV they left their dogs, Mako and Marlin, with Pawsitively Paradise for two days over Thanksgiving but said they returned to Mako lying unresponsive with yellow fluid coming from his mouth.
Mako later died at the emergency vet, and the couple said Marlin was being treated for severe dehydration and a bacterial infection in his feet.
“There is no explanation for that healthy dog that died,” Adelle Csontos said at the time.
“We’ve been out of the house twice, both times because the dogs died under the operator’s care,” said Sheriff William Snyder.
By John Bry/WPTV
The necropsy performed on Mako was inconclusive. The report said the dog’s death was due to aspiration of gastrointestinal contents. In other words, he must have choked on his vomit.
What triggered the vomiting, however, was unclear in the report, so criminal charges were never filed.
In Fluffy’s case, the vet’s report was inconclusive.
“The vet did an examination, inside and out, and couldn’t determine the cause of death. So we don’t know and we probably won’t determine the cause of death,” Snyder said.
Last year, Snyder said deputies cited the owner eight times for improperly caring for animals. Chief Deputy John Budensiek said at the time that one of the citations involved animals being kept in crates without water.
Deputies said the owner’s license, while active in 2023, was not renewed in 2024.
“Even though we don’t have criminal charges, there’s a very bright red flag here,” Snyder said.
WPTV went to Pawsitively Paradise and spoke with owner Nikki Camerlengo.
“I understand that they lost their pet and I understand, that’s horrible. I wouldn’t wish that on no one, but as a business owner I don’t feel like I need to be taken down,” Camerlengo said.
Camerlengo told Hussey he didn’t do anything wrong or mistreat the animals, and said both dogs that died had pre-existing conditions before coming in, telling WPTV that Mako had pneumonia and Flurry had an oxygen issue .
Mako’s necropsy said tests for viral and bacterial pneumonia came back negative.
Benoit said Flurry’s only issue with oxygen was having kennel cough a few months prior, and deputies said the doodle’s vet said the dog was perfectly healthy.
“I’m sorry there were some issues, but that comes with any job wherever you go,” Camerlengo said. “It just so happens that mine has something to do with dogs. If it’s someone with day care then so be it.”
“So you plan to continue training dogs after this?” asked Hussey.
“He’s allowed to train dogs,” replied Camerlengo’s mother, Vicki Camerlengo.
“This is what I do,” said Nikki Camerleng. “I’m a master dog trainer, I’m nationally certified.”
By John Bry/WPTV
“Obviously two very healthy dogs died under the operator and I don’t think he should be in the animal husbandry business,” Snyder countered.
Camerlengo is not facing criminal charges although Snyder said the investigation is ongoing.
Snyder said he also referred this case to code enforcement since he said he was operating without a license.
