NJ Man Admits Killing Ex-Girlfriend's Dogs, Ferret In Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Matthew Savinovich, who killed his ex-girlfriend's pets in her home, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, one count of torturing animals, and one count of attempted burglary in the second degree.

Savinovich was arrested in October over the deaths of three chihuahuas and a ferret, killed one at a time over the course of a year. He had initially been charged with one count of felony burglary, four counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals, four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and four counts of felony criminal mischief.

He admitted Tuesday that he killed two of his ex-girlfriend’s chihuahuas by slamming them against a wall at her house in Lake Peekskill. Savinovich also admitted to killing her ferret by intentionally dropping a mattress and box spring on it, crushing it to death, Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy said.

"This is one of the worst examples of Animal Cruelty that I have ever seen," said Tendy. "The case took a lot of time and work to put together—there were no witnesses, and no one knew what had happened or why. The team did a phenomenal job, and as a result this defendant will serve state prison time for the brutality that he intentionally inflicted on these innocent and defenseless animals."

Savinovitch, a New Jersey resident, is a predicate felon with an extensive criminal record. Under New York Penal Law, a predicate felon is someone with a prior felony conviction from the past 10 years.

He faces between three and seven years in state prison, Tendy said. Sentencing is scheduled for July 5.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas LaStella. Tendy thanked Criminal Investigator Jaemie Caban, also of the District Attorney’s Office, as well as Chief Kenneth Ross of the Putnam County SPCA, Detective Sergeant Kenneth Ross III, also of the Putnam County SPCA, and Investigators Matthew Shelters and Paul Piazza of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the case.