An arrest warrant has been issued for a Bucksport woman who is accused of mistreating more than two dozen dogs, according to court records.
Ellisha Krutuleski, 44, is the owner and operator of Coastal Dreams Rescue and Sanctuary on Millvale Road in Bucksport. She is facing six felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals, according to a complaint filed in Hancock County Unified Criminal Court.
Animal welfare agents seized 27 dogs at the shelter on July 30, according to a spokesperson with the state agency investigating the case. The dogs have been placed with other shelters and rescue organizations, he said.
“All the dogs are doing well,” Jim Britt, spokesperson for the state animal welfare agency, said Wednesday. “The dogs have cleared the legal holding period or will soon clear it and may be available for adoption.”
Britt declined further comment, saying that the case remains under investigation.
An arrest warrant affidavit detailing the allegations against Krutuleski has been filed in court but it is impounded and not publicly available, according to a court clerk.
According to the court complaint, the six aggravated cruelty to animals charges filed against Krutuleski stem from allegations that she demonstrated a “depraved indifference to animal life or suffering” and caused “extreme” physical pain, death, or torture of an animal.
The misdemeanor charge accuses her of depriving food, medical attention, shelter or clean conditions to 27 dogs.
The six aggravated cruelty charges are each a Class C felony, a conviction of which is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Attempts to track down contact information for Krutuleski or the animal shelter have been unsuccessful. A voicemail message left at a number associated with the shelter was not returned Wednesday.
An Instagram account for the shelter appears to have been deleted.
Officials with Bucksport Police Department declined to confirm or comment on any aspect of the case last week when contacted by the Bangor Daily News. Another message left Wednesday was not immediately returned.
In an indication that Krutuleski has not yet been located and arrested, an official at Hancock County Jail said Wednesday that she had not been booked into the jail as an inmate.
