Bedford Police Capt. Paul Roy said 31 dogs and 14 cats, some in poor health, were removed from the residence at 7 Grey Rock Road of Ed Cammarota , 56, who had been selling the dogs on-line. Two children, both under the age of 10, were taken into custody by the state and charges have been filed against the mother of the children, identified as Tatiana Holmes, 27, Roy said. Two dead dogs were also found at the home.

Holmes is charged with two counts of endangerment to the welfare of a child, and several counts of criminal liability in the cruelty to animals charges.

Cammarota was charged with two counts of child endangerment. The number of animal-cruelty charges is still undetermined, but they are misdemeanors, with a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail, Roy said. The number and the severity of animal cruelty charges hinge on the condition of the animals taken from the house, Roy said. Also under investigation is whether Cammarota had approval from the proper authorities to sell the animals.

A few of the animals taken from the house required medical attention, Roy said. He said they were malnourished. A horse trailer was used to remove the animals.

The conditions in the house were such that Wayne Richardson, the code official for the town's building/health department, posted a notice to vacate on the front door until the house is cleaned and disinfected.

The dogs were in the basement, garage and attic of the house, and while some were in crates or kennels, others were allowed to move freely through the house, Roy said.

Richardson said feces and urine from the animals was allowed to accumulate for days before being cleaned.

While the waste was generally contained in certain parts of the house, microscopic particles could seep into the building materials. The particles could contain worms or parasites, and the presence of two small children in the house created a health concern, Richardson said.

"Children are extremely susceptible," he said. "That's why I got involved."

Roy said police began investigating Cammarota in late April after someone who went to the house to buy an animal complained about the conditions. After another complaint in June and an investigation, police decided to move in, Roy said.

"We felt we had enough to approach the judge for a search warrant," Roy said.

Bedford Police coordinated their efforts with the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the state veterinarian Dr. Clifford McGinnis and Bedford Animal Hospital.

"We wanted to be able to house any number of animals we would have found," Roy said, noting that most were taken to the SPCA in Stratham.

Cammarota was selling English and French bulldogs and Neapolitan Mastiffs under the name Bulldogs4you, which displayed photos of the puppies at http://community.webshots.com/user/bulldogs4you.  The puppies were all under 2 months old.  The cats, included Abyssinians, Bengals, Himalayans and Maine Coon cats could sell for $200-400 per cat.

In one online posting, Cammarota wrote, "We have a new litter, 8 weeks old, males and females. Puppies come with first shots and deworming, VER Certificate, written health guarantee. We will pay for half the cost of shipping if needed."

"I've never seen this before," Richardson said of the conditions.

Cammarota is being held at Valley Street jail on $100,000 cash-only bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Merrimack District Court.

Update 6/14/03:

A trial date has been set for two people charged with animal cruelty and child endangerment.

Edmond Cammarota , 56, and Tatiana Holmes, 27, both of 7 Grey Rock Road, were arraigned in Merrimack District Court.

Cammarota faces 47 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, while Holmes faces 47 counts of criminal liability to cruelty to animals. Both face two counts each of child endangerment.

A trial date was set for June 23. On each count, Cammarota and Holmes face up to a year in prison and up to a $1,000 fine.

Bail was reduced from $100,000 cash to $50,000 cash each, and Cammarota and Holmes were held at Valley Street Jail.

Wayne Richardson, the code official for the town's building and health department, posted a notice to vacate on the front door until the house is cleaned and disinfected. Richardson said feces and urine from the animals was allowed to accumulate for days in certain sections of the house before being cleaned.

Holmes' children, a 3-year-old girl is in DCYF state custody.  The 7-year-old boy was released to his biological father.

   (Photos courtesy of Lara Bricker, The Portsmouth Herald - a dog nicknamed "Brando" by shelter staff, gets checked out at the NHSPCA).  Cammarota and Holmes told people who bought the puppies that Holmes' parents had a farm in Russia where the animals were bred.  Holmes is originally from Russia.

While the puppies are recovering, authorities are focusing on how the couple got the puppies into the country.  Police believe the pus were flown in from Russia.  The Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, which is under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control, oversees pet animals coming into the country.  Dogs are inspected when entering the country for evidence of any infectious diseases that could be transmitted to people.

The US does not require health certificates for dogs entering the country, however, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies 30 days before entering the country, except puppies younger than 3 months old.  All the pups seized were about 2 months old or younger and therefore they would not have been requir3ed to have the rabies certificates to enter the country.

Once in the US, the dog owners must follow the interstate transport regulations and state laws regarding health certificates and vaccination.  Dogs and puppies brought into the state of New Hampshire must have a health certificate from a veterinarian within 30 days.  Authorities are investigating whether the puppies were brought into the state properly.

Update 8/18/03:

   (Photo courtesy of The Nashua Telegraph) Tatiana Holmes , 28, 7 Grey Rock Road, Bedford, pleaded no contest to aiding criminal activity for selling pets without a license and was sentenced to the House of Corrections for 11 months, all deferred for one year, restitution, 25 hours of community service ordered. Forty-seven counts of cruelty to animals were dropped.

Update 12/9/03:

  (Photo courtesy of The Nashua Telegraph)  Edmond Cammarota , 56, 46 Alexander Road, Londonderry, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of cruelty to animals and was sentenced to the House of Correction for 12 months, deferred for one year on good behavior, restitution of $20,300.68 to the SPCA at Stratham. Cammarota is to perform 50 hours of community service, and not control, possess or sell any animals for five years. Thirty-seven complaints of cruelty to animals are to be dropped per complaint upon each payment of $500 of restitution. Two complaints of endangering the welfare of a child were dropped.

Reference:

The Nashua Telegraph

The Exeter News-Letter

The Portsmouth Herald

The Union Leader