BUCKSPORT, Maine (WABI) – An employee at a Florida-based animal rescue says one of their former dogs is one of the 27 dogs rescued by Coastal Dreams Rescue and Sanctuary in Bucksport earlier this month.

The owner and operator are now facing several charges for the mistreatment of dogs in her rescue center.

The Florida-based nonprofit says they have no idea where the dog is now, but want him back.

Sierra Hancock is the dog coordinator at Rags to Riches Animal Rescue in Tampa.

Earlier this year, they first heard about Ellisha Krutuleski and her facility, Coastal Dreams Rescue and Sanctuary on Millvale Road.

She says Krutuleski had a good reputation in the animal rescue community in Florida and here in Maine.

That was the case until a few days ago.

Hancock says they sent Krutuleski a year-and-a-half-old pit bull named Howler in April.

And this after Krutuleski said she was able to take care of him.

Rags to Riches Animal Rescue even donated $5,000 to Coastal Dreams Rescue to cover expenses, but wanted news about Howler in return.

Hancock says Krutuleski kept them well informed at first, but by early June they began to notice some warning signs.

A complaint states that Krutuleski now faces six counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of cruelty to animals.

On July 30, officials were called to the shelter and reported finding animal remains and 27 dogs living in poor conditions.

According to officials, the remains of six dogs were found in garbage bags and boxes.

Rescue workers in Florida say they were devastated to learn they had sent Howler to a location that was not safe.

“He’s been through so much and now he’s fighting for his life because of her, it makes him angry. That hurts more than the anger at what she did, but the anger at what she did obviously makes it even worse. She has to do the right thing or it’s not going to turn out well legally at all,” Hancock said.

Hancock believes the abuse and neglect began immediately when Howler arrived in April.

Court documents also show that Krutuleski was not at the property that day after being hospitalized with an unspecified illness.

“When that got out and we made our first (Facebook) post about Howler, she commented on her business page, Coastal Dreams Rescue, on our Rags to Riches post on Facebook and said, ‘Oh, I don’t know what happened while I was in the hospital. I was gone for a week and this happened. You don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Basically, she tried to make her case by saying that it was her volunteers who had neglected their animals and that it was only for a week. I’m sorry, Howler’s condition, over six dead dogs, several others that have not been identified, several others actively dying from being sick and emaciated — that doesn’t happen in a week. I’m sorry, that doesn’t happen in two weeks or even a month, honestly. That’s months of neglect,” Hancock said.

Hancock says the animal rescue organization plans to take legal action against Krutuleski.

As for Howler, Hancock says state officials are not telling them where he is.

A spokesperson for the animal welfare program said all of the dogs have been placed in shelters and rescue centers and are doing well.

He says the dogs have exceeded or will soon exceed the legal holding period and could be put up for adoption.

We asked Krutuleski for comment, but she did not return our call.

At this point, it does not appear that Krutuleski has been taken into custody.

Coastal Dreams Rescue and Sanctuary’s social media pages appear to have since been deleted.

Copyright 2024 WABI. All rights reserved.