-
Search warrant executed
After receiving a complaint that two Rottweillers killed 18 goats at the 70-acre tenant farm at 465 American Legion Highway, police execute a search warrant on the property and discover hundreds of dead and neglected animals with a stench and squalor so bad it was closed off as a “biosecurity area.” Hundreds of animals — pigs, cows, geese, goats and sheep — were found dead while the living animals, many of them neglected with no food or water, were walking around the dead livestock. -
Sen. Rodrigues hosts meeting
A meeting is hosted by state Sen. Michael Rodrigues to discuss what went wrong on the 70-acre American Legion Highway tenant farm that led to an animal abuse case there for the second time in six years. -
Case becomes largest in the Northeast
The investigation into animal neglect and cruelty at a 70-acre property off Route 177 represents the largest farm abuse case the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has investigated in the Northeast, Sgt. Antonio Cestodio. The attorney general’s office is investigating the case, which could lead to felony charges against suspects, he said, during a meeting at the Westport Public Library. -
Westport Board of Health members restricted
Two members of the town’s Board of Health, Karl Santos and John Colletti, have been stripped of their abilities to inspect animals by the state Department of Agricultural Resources. -
New homes for animals found
The vast majority of the animals found living in deplorable conditions at a Westport farm in a record animal cruelly case have been removed to a temporary site nearby, officials said. The Westport Board of Selectmen has entered into a temporary license agreement with the undisclosed private property where the ASPCA has built a shelter for the rescued creatures. -
Health agent put on leave
Senior Health Agent Jim Walsh was put on administrative leave as town officials try to uncover what led to the widespread animal abuse. Also several dozen protesters packed the selectmen’s meeting, lashing out at John J. Colletti and Karl W. Santos, who were recently stripped of their authority as animal inspectors by the state. -
Discover: Starvation led to some deaths
At least some of the animals found buried on the Westport farm under investigation for animal cruelty likely died of starvation, according to preliminary necropsy results. The remains of about 70 animals were discovered by forensic scientists, including Dr. Jason Byrd, associate director for Maples Center for Forensic Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, who helped identify victims after 9/11 and the Orlando nightclub shootings in June. -
New animals found at Westport farm
Farm animals are reintroduced to the 70-acre Westport farm. Town officials said they are not pleased with the return of animals to the property, but say there is nothing they can do. -
Two animals escape from Westport tenant farm
A bull and a calf escape from the property and took authorities on a three-hour search. A renter at the tenant farm claimed they were his animals and he was able to corral the livestock before bringing them to an auction in Pennsylvania. -
Injunction filed against farm owner
The town filed an injunction in Bristol County Superior Court against Richard Medeiros and his controversial tenant farm on American Legion Highway. Selectmen Chairman R. Michael Sullivan said the injunction, if granted, would force Medeiros, with a listed address of 252 Gifford Road, to tear down the buildings that have been condemned by the building commissioner and “prohibit (Medeiros) from using the buildings to house animals in the interim.” -
Judge orders tenants to remove animals, belongings
At a hearing in Bristol County Superior Court, Judge Renee Dupuis gave a temporary order that approximately 20 tenants must remove their animals and belongings from the property by Dec. 16. A small number of those 20 must remove their belongings by Dec. 30. American Legion tenant farm owner Richard Medeiros was ordered to stop using the condemned structures on site, have all animals removed and cease to be on the property, and report to town officials regularly about his cleanup progress. -
Deadline to vacate
Per order of the Bristol County Superior Court, the owner of the tenant farm on American Legion Highway was by 5 p.m. on Nov. 9 to have ceased using the structures on the property and remove animals that he owns or has authority over. -
Committee formed to protect animals and livestock
Animal Action Committee, a 12-person ad hoc committee — with the goal of protecting animal welfare and livestock — was formed. Selectwoman Shana Shufelt was named the board’s representative. Two at-large members, the animal control officer, a police officer, an animal inspector, the Animal Control Officer, two health board members, a zoning board member and two agricultural commission members will fill out the group. -
Tenants ordered to pay bills for ASPCA
Superior Court Justice Renee Dupuis orders tenants to pay some of the veterinary and other bills the ASPCA incurred during last summer’s removal and rescue of close to 1,400 animals found on the property at 465 American Legion Highway. Dupuis is giving the tenants until Nov. 26 to take care of these costs, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will seize control. -
Discovery: Officials knew of farm conditions
Town and state officials knew about the conditions at the American Legion Highway tenant farm 15 months before officials took action, both the Town Administrator Timothy King and other authorities revealed. Documents reveal that town and state authorities had visited the property as early as April 2015. King shared a report detailing Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources animal inspector Glenn Harris’ visit to the property. -
Protests, and a resignation
Protesters attend the selectmen and health board meetings and call for the resignation of Karl Santos and John Colletti. Also, Fred Ponte — the only town animal inspector for the last few months — resigned from his animal inspection duties. -
Senior health agent resigns
Longtime senior health agent James Walsh resigned; Walsh was suspended with pay in August, following the animal abuse scandal. -
Ringworm, E. coli, salmonella found on lots
The farm draws concerns for the presence of ringworm, E. coli and salmonella on some of its lots. Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Michael Cahill initially expressed concern over what strand of salmonella could be on the property, but, upon further review, the state dropped its concern, saying that there is no health risk unless there is a human outbreak. -
Cost to town tops $150,000
Westport electmen say expenses connected to the town’s involvement in rescuing animals and remedying issues connected to the animal abuse scandal on American Legion Highway are an estimated $150,000 to $200,000. Selectmen Chairman R. Michael Sullivan noted the town has been in discussions and negotiations with the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals and hopes to garner 100 percent reimbursement. -
Concern for all Westport animals expressed
Animal Action Committee Chairwoman Shana Shufelt suggests Westport needs to know where all its animals are and the ACA would like to see a registry created. Shufelt noted that dogs, cats and ferrets must have rabies vaccinations and owners are required to register their animals at Town Hall, a process helpful in identifying animals. Ownership of swine and equine requires a Board of Health permit, but not for cattle. -
Westport farm owner, 26 tenants indicted on animal cruelty charges
Medeiros, the farm owner, and 26 tenants are indicted on 151 charges of animal cruelty, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office announceds. The indictment names several Fall River residents as defendants. “As a result of our investigation, the owner of this farm and its tenants will be held responsible for the inhumane treatment of these animals,” AG Maura Healey said -
Westport health board names new chairman
The Westport health board names a new chairman, newcomer William Harkins, who was not on the board when inspections were made at the controversial tenant farm property at 465 American Legion Highway; former chairman John Colletti had been on the board for several years, and was involved when animal abuses cases were uncovered on the property in both 2010 and 2016. Some residents asked both Colletti and member Karl Santos to resign, but both balked at that request. -
Discovery: Annual inspection performed just twice over four years
The regional citizens group Protest the Westport Animal farm filed a public records request with the state Department of Agricultural Resources, and concluded that annual inspections were only conducted twice between 2013 through 2016 at the 465 American Legion Highway property. The most recent inspection was signed with a line and did not include an actual signature.
