KENOSHA, Wis. — A 39-year-old Kenosha therapist was found guilty of two animal-related offenses after police discovered filthy conditions at her home, including chickens living among accumulated feces and a large emotional support dog reportedly left outside during a thunderstorm while she was out of state. Jacqueline Patricia Niccolai was ordered to pay $191.30 in forfeitures after an investigation revealed that her goldendoodle, Winston, named after former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, had reportedly been left outside without adequate shelter, food, or water during severe weather. Niccolai told police she was in Chicago when officers initially responded to complaints about the barking dog. When Winston was later brought back to the property, an officer observed that he was dirty, inconsistent with Niccolai’s explanation that he had been at a groomer. Police also discovered chickens living in a filthy enclosure without food or clean water, with feces covering portions of the coop and surrounding area.

But Niccolai’s treatment of Winston was not the only troubling allegation involving animals. According to a source with firsthand knowledge of the incident, Niccolai previously intentionally allowed two dogs belonging to her children, named Lady Liberty, nicknamed “Liby,” and Independence Hall, nicknamed “Indy,” to escape from her home rather than properly surrendering them to the Humane Society. The dogs were microchipped, allowing them to be traced back to Niccolai after they ended up at the Humane Society. According to the source, Niccolai asked whether she could simply pay the organization to keep the dogs. She was reportedly told the cost would be $100 per dog and that she needed to complete paperwork. The source said Niccolai never returned, never paid the fees and never reclaimed the animals. Instead, she allegedly told her children that their dogs had gone to a farm where they would have more room to run.

Police Called After Dog Reportedly Left Outside During Thunderstorm

The investigation began when a concerned neighbor reported that a dog had been barking outside for hours during a thunderstorm. The neighbor reported that the animal had no shelter and no apparent access to food or water. Kenosha Police Community Service Officer Rachel Hamm responded to investigate. Niccolai was not home, telling police she was in Chicago. Winston, however, had reportedly been left behind. When Hamm returned later, Niccolai indicated that she was still out of town. On another visit, officers discovered a vehicle registered to Niccolai parked in her driveway. Despite repeated knocking and ringing of the doorbell, nobody answered. When contacted by telephone, Niccolai reportedly refused to allow police to inspect her property without a search warrant. Hamm subsequently received permission from a neighbor to observe Niccolai’s backyard from an adjoining property.

According to Hamm’s report, the chicken coop was filthy, with very dirty chickens inside. There was no food or clean water available to the birds. Chicken feces had accumulated throughout the enclosure, and the floor of the chicken run was muddy. The officer also noted that the coop was too small for the number of chickens being kept there. Neighbors reported that the chickens had been on the property for an extended period. Hamm additionally observed that the backyard lacked an appropriately sized shelter for Winston, a large goldendoodle. Neighbors reported that the garage door had been closed during the storms, leaving Winston without access to shelter.

In addition to keeping chickens, Niccolai also had ducks, according to a social media post in which she shared a photograph of two ducklings and joked about her growing collection of animals.

Niccolai’s Explanation About Winston Raises Questions

Another officer, Harris, arrived to assist because Niccolai had an unrelated open weapons case. Harris was eventually able to speak with Niccolai and obtain access to the backyard. According to the police report, Niccolai initially indicated that Winston was not on the property. However, as Hamm was preparing to leave, someone brought Winston onto the property. Hamm described Winston as a large goldendoodle that was visibly dirty. His condition was inconsistent with Niccolai’s explanation that he had been at the groomer the previous night. The officer also determined that any shelter available in the backyard was too small to adequately accommodate a dog of Winston’s size.

Niccolai acquired Winston around September 2023, according to an Instagram post in which she introduced him as the newest member of her family. She said she had been advised to get an emotional support animal and described Winston as a perfect fit.

From “Not The Chicken Police” To Three Chicken Citations

In an ironic twist, Niccolai had previously been arrested at her home after allegedly arming herself while intoxicated. During that police encounter, a Kenosha police sergeant casually questioned Niccolai about the chickens she was keeping on her property. Niccolai reportedly told the sergeant that her chickens were none of his concern. “I’m not the chicken police,” the sergeant replied.

As it turned out, Kenosha police would eventually become the chicken police, at least in a sense.

During the subsequent animal-related investigation, officers issued Niccolai three citations for unlawfully keeping farm animals or fowl within city limits. Those three offenses were ultimately dismissed as part of an agreement that resulted in Niccolai being found guilty of two other animal-related offenses.

Five Animal-Related Offenses Reduced To Two Findings Of Guilt

Niccolai originally faced five animal-related offenses, including three counts involving the keeping of farm animals or fowl in the city, one count of failing to obtain a dog license and one count involving unsanitary animal housing. The five original citations carried combined deposits totaling $9,590. However, Niccolai reached an agreement with the Kenosha City Attorney’s Office, resulting in findings of guilt on two offenses. She was found guilty of failing to obtain a dog license and violating the city’s animal/bird/fowl sanitary housing requirements. Her financial penalties were $67.30 for the dog license offense and $124 for the sanitary housing offense, totaling just $191.30. The three remaining offenses involving farm animals were dismissed as part of the agreement.

Two Other Dogs Allegedly Abandoned, Children Told They Went To A Farm

The separate allegations involving Liby and Indy raise additional questions about Niccolai’s treatment of animals. According to a source with firsthand knowledge of the incident, the dogs were originally purchased for Niccolai’s children. The source described the decision to release the animals as deliberate rather than accidental. The source said Niccolai intentionally let the dogs loose and refused to retrieve them when someone present expressed concern about their safety. According to the account, Niccolai told that person not to retrieve the animals, indicating that she intended to let them go.

After the animals were recovered, their microchips reportedly allowed the Humane Society to identify and contact Niccolai. Rather than reclaiming the dogs, Niccolai allegedly asked the organization to keep them in exchange for payment. The source said she agreed to the $100-per-dog surrender fee but never completed the paperwork or paid the money. The source further alleged that Niccolai told her children the dogs had been taken to a farm, concealing what had actually happened. Kenosha County Eye independently obtained Humane Society records corroborating the account involving the animals.

The allegations concerning Liby and Indy were separate from the police investigation involving Winston and the chickens. The court proceedings did not address the alleged abandonment of the two dogs. The ultimate fate of Liby and Indy remains unclear.

Separately, Niccolai has an open OWI case and 10 open and pending criminal cases. She is a licensed therapist.