2 face animal cruelty charges after abandoning dogs mistaken for ‘black coyotes’

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Warwick Police Chief Bradford Connor said Thursday two people will face charges of animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning two dogs that were initially mistaken to be “black coyotes.”

According to Connor, 32-year-old Andrew Sanville and 29-year-old Amanda Bray contacted will be charged with various animal cruelty charges after officers searched their residence in Warwick earlier in the day and found “deplorable” conditions.

The chief said during the search, officers discovered there were up to 12 dogs also living in the home.

Connor said the home was condemned.

Officials said Sanville and Bray were given the dogs by the original owner under the assumption they would be able to care for them.

Both Sanville and Bray reportedly admitted to be caring for the two dogs now identified as Libby and Bella.

Both are charged with the following:

• One count of animal cruelty
• One count care of dogs
• One count compulsory rabies vaccination
• Two counts abandonment of animals

Bray is set to be released on personal recognizance and is expected back in court in May.

Sanville was held as a probation violator and will be arraigned in Third District Court on Friday morning.

Earlier Thursday, Mayor Frank Picozzi said the information provided to them that the dogs were coyotes was determined to be false.

For several hours Thursday, officers and several different local animal control agencies attempted to capture the two dogs, believed to be German shepherd-husky-wolf mixes.

Eventually, officers were able to safely sedate the dogs and take them to get treatment.

Further investigation from town officials lead to the boarding and condemning of the property.

The dogs will spend time in quarantine to ensure safety as it was discovered that they were not fully vaccinated.