Highland Heights, Ohio – A puppy named Coco suffered a horrific death at the hands of her owner’s boyfriend, who tortured her for hours. The 10-month-old Yorkshire terrier’s killer is identified as Phil Savelli and the details of the puppy’s death are gruesome.

Surveillance video from June 2 shows Coco being repeatedly dunked in a sink full of water and placed inside of a freezer. After Coco died, Savelli put her body back in a dog bed.

Please add your name to the petition to put Coco’s killer behind bars for as long as possible! This was an inexcusable and sickening act of cruelty, and Savelli must be held accountable for his appalling behavior!

Phil Savelli brutally killed his girlfriend’s puppy last week. Surveillance video revealed the full horror of what Coco was subjected to before she finally died. The footage showed Savelli plunging the pup into water and placing her in a freezer. When she didn’t immediately die – he did it again. After the puppy froze to death, Savelli took her body out of the freezer and placed her in a bed where her owner would find her.

Savelli was arrested over the weekend for animal cruelty after turning himself into the Highland Heights Police. It is imperative that this man receives the maximum sentence for the charge and be banned from owning or living with an animal forever. Coco deserves justice and a plea deal would only serve to diminish the seriousness of this despicable act of cruelty. Please add your name to the petition today to put Savelli behind bars for as long as possible!

Savelli is scheduled for his first court appearance on June 14 at Lyndhurst Municipal Court.

Petition Letter

Cleveland 19 News

Animal-Protection-Laws-of-Ohio-2020-Animal-Legal-Defense-Fund

Suspects are presumed innocent until being found guilty in a court of law.

Final update 2/24/2022: After pleading guilty, Savelli has been sentenced to 60 days in jail on three counts of cruelty to animals. After release from jail, Savelli was ordered by the judge to also serve three years on controlled probation. He is also prohibited from owning a pet for an “indefinite amount of time.” Thank you to everyone who signed the petition, helping to bring attention to this case, and standing with Animal Victory as we fought for justice! After sentencing, Isadora A. Almaro (Asst. Prosecuting Attorney) reached out to let Animal Victory know that the petition helped and she thanked us for our hard work with this case. 

Update 2/14/2022: Animal Victory spoke with Isadora A. Almaro, the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, and she let us know that sentencing is next week. She also let us know that she is thrilled to have the petition and appreciative of the support. In a separate email, she wrote, “Thank you so much for your hard work and support of little Coco!”

Update 12/13/2021: Animal Victory has learned that Savelli changed his plea from not guilty to guilty for three charges of cruelty to animals. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2022.

Update 11/30/2021: Animal Victory has learned that the next court date is scheduled for December 13, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

Update 11/15/2021: Animal Victory has sent 19,144 signatures to Prosecutor Timothy Clary. 

Update 11/03/2021: Animal Victory has learned that the pre-trial has been reset to 11/09/2021 at the request of the defendant. The trial remains scheduled for 12/13/2021 at 9 a.m.

Update 8/17/2021: Animal Victory has learned that the trial has been reset to 9/08/2021 due to Covid protocols.

Update 8/06/2021: Animal Victory has corresponded with the prosecutor’s office and we have been assured that the petition will be presented to the judge at sentencing. The next pretrial is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, at 9 a.m.

Update 6/30/2021: Animal Victory has learned that case #CR-21-660492-A is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 7/12/2021 at 9 a.m. in room 16C of the Justice Center (Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley).

Update 6/25/2021: Animal Victory has learned that Savelli entered “not guilty” pleas for all of his charges while in court on 6/24/2021. He has been ordered to have no contact with animals, or the dog’s owner, and bond was set at $10,000.

Update 6/15/2021: Animal Victory has learned, from Lyndhurst Municipal court records, that the June 14th appearance was cancelled. Savelli waived his right to a prelim and the case was ‘bound over’ meaning sent to county for grand jury.

Individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PRIOR SIGNATURES : 17483

PRIOR SIGNATURES : 17483