 As Warwick Watch previously blogged back in February: Rachael (Rachel) Duarte living at at 26 Floyd Ave in East Providence was arrested and charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty and 365 counts of operating as a breeder and pet shop without a license. Duarte's house was loaded with cats dogs and puppies of various breeds, living in filthy, squalid conditions. Duarte's kids were sleeping on mattresses in the basement.  Judge James J. Caruolo once again gives out the ole animal abuse wrist slap. Read more on the arrest, here. Duarte has an autistic son and was also temporarily housing a teenager placed there by DCYF. In fact, DCYF had just been out to the property just prior to the arrest of Duarte to check on the 17-year-old girl that was staying there. The DCYF caseworker was supposedly going to write up the final report with the decision that would not allow the teenage girl to continue staying at Duarte's residence. Wonder why. But did that DCYF caseworker immediately call police? NO. Neighbors ended up calling the police when they witnessed someone dropping off puppies at the house. Another neighbor said she would frequently feed the cats that were always outside, but never knew there were also dogs in the house. In April, Rachael Duarte/ Gouveia started a Go Fund Me and even tried raising money to supposedly get a service dog back, but didn't get a single donation. According to ABC6 news: "EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — An East Providence home is now condemned after dozens of cats and dogs and other animals were removed from the filth. Officials boarded up the home on 26 Floyd Avenue after a building inspector deemed it unsafe. East Providence Animal Control told ABC6 News they removed 20 dogs, 22 cats, a bearded dragon, and a mouse from the home. Animal Control says the dogs were covered in feces. As a result of the animal control call, 40-year-old Rachael Duarte was arrested for simple assault on an officer and disorderly conduct. Animal-related charges against her are pending. Officials would only comment that they were taking the animals for “their own safety.” A veterinarian said they seemed to be in good health, despite some fleas and worming. DCYF was also on the scene assessing a 17-year-old's living situation in the home. Duarte was arraigned in Providence District Court Friday and was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and referred to the pre-trial services unit for a mental evaluation." According to WPRI 12: "East Providence Animal Control last month seized dozens of animals from Duarte's Floyd Avenue home, including 22 cats and 20 dogs. Conditions at the house were so poor the house was condemned on the spot by a building inspector. Of the 20 dogs, 17 were puppies. Some of those puppies were infected with parvovirus, which caused the East Providence Animal Shelter to go under quarantine. One of the puppies ending up dying of the disease. Court documents reveal police were notified on Jan. 12 that a "suspicious looking white van" pulled up to the home and dropped off a load of puppies in filthy conditions. Police said Duarte told them she had gotten the dogs - 17 puppies and 1 bulldog - off of Craigslist. Investigators said that wasn't the case. According to police, Duarte rented the van and conspired with an unknown person to pick up the puppies in Arkansas. Court documents state the puppies were transported "inhumanely" in the van in "crates too small for all the puppies to freely move, while covered in feces." The court dismissed the 365 counts of operating as a breeder and pet shop without a license so Rachael Duarte/Gouveia could plead NOLO to just one count, and was fined accordingly. The 17 counts of animal cruelty were dismissed on a 48A. The judge allowed Duarte/Gouveia to have her two service dogs back. She paid $2500 in restitution and $641.75 in fines. She is not allowed to operate a kennel or breed any animals and she no longer lives in East Providence as the house was immediately condemned the day of the arrest.             
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