A former Greenwich and Oxford, NJ woman, Marie Feniello, 66, with outstanding Animal Cruelty charges in Greenwich had a date in Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday morning.
Animal Control Officers Suzanna Carlin and Carolyn Smith attended, along with a volunteer from Guardians of Rescue only to learn Ms Feniello was granted a continuance. Again.
Marie Feniello. April 2, 2025 Photo courtesy Greenwich Police
Feniello, who also has outstanding court cases for animal cruelty in New Hampshire and Vermont, was charged in Greenwich in relation to the deaths of two dogs she allegedly did not feed for at least two days. Investigation determined two black Labs, Augi and Sawyer, died from severe malnourishment, and a third Lab, Thatcher, was brought in emaciated at 37 lbs. Officers later found additional dogs confined in one crate and multiple cats living in debris. Feniello was charged with three counts of animal cruelty and ordered not to possess animals.
According to the CT Judicial branch website, Feniello’s three outstanding charges in Greenwich for Animal Cruelty stem back to Nov 21, 2024. She arrested on March 25, 2026. The charges are Class A misdemeanors and her bond was $50,000, for which she posted the required 7% cash.
Feniello’s animal cruelty cases have been on the docket 12 times according o the Judicial Branch website.
Feniello also has an outstanding charge for Trespass in Greenwich on March 27, 2026, another class A misdemeanor. For that she posted 7% of her $1,500 bond.
She was also arrested on March 29 in Darien for Illegal Operation of Motor Vehicle Under Suspension and was released on a promise to appear.
Outside the courthouse on Tuesday ACO Carlin who didn’t learn the continuance was approved until she and ACO Smith sat and waited in the courtroom for an hour, said, “I don’t understand how many outs people get. They’re not held accountable. I understand if they have to take time off work…but we don’t even know where she is living. We’ve been here nine times already and she was a no-show.”
Carlin who had a statement prepared to read to a judge before learning about the continuance, added, “The continuance has a lot to do with her cases in VT and New Hampshire.”
Indeed, numerous animal rescue and welfare groups like Passion4PawsVT have issued public warnings identifying Marie Feniello as a “multi-state animal cruelty offender,” reported to frequently move between New Jersey, CT, Vermont, and New Hampshire to acquire new animals despite a condition of her release being prohibited from doing so.
ACO Smith said it was unfortunate that there was no government registry across the state or nation for animal abusers.
ACO Carlin said nevertheless animal control officers try to do their own due diligence when adopting out animals.
“We make sure we don’t repeat and adopt to a suspected or convicted animal abuser,” Carlin said.
“Across the state, you can have 20 or more continuances on a case. The system is slow and drawn out,” said Andrea Kerin a volunteer from Desmond’s Army, who drove from several towns away to attend Feniello’s appearance in court.
Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates are volunteers who have a presence at animal cruelty court cases as a “Voice for the Voiceless.” Their volunteers show up in their purple t-shirts featuring an image of Desmond, a Boxer/Pitbull mix who was murdered for revenge by the former partner of an abuse victim by torturing, punching, and choking the dog to death.
The CT judicial branch website notes Tuesday’s court appearance for the animal cruelty charges was Feniello’s 12th time on the docket.
Her next date in Stamford Superior Court is tentatively June 29.
See also:
Repeat Animal Cruelty Offender Due Back in Stamford Superior Court
Dec 29, 2025
Woman Faces Charges after Death of 2 Dogs, Malnutrition and Seizure of Third
April 1, 2025