Docking tails and other veterinary practices without license Downey, CA (US) Incident Date: Friday, Jan 31, 2003 County: Los Angeles Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Anna Berardini

Case ID: 1136 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Anna Berardini, owner of Anna's Pet Grooming at 12001 Firestone Blvd. in Norwalk, entered her not guilty pleas in Downey Superior Court. She faces two counts of unlawfully performing surgery and eight counts of unlawfully diagnosing and prescribing a drug or treatment.

Charges that Berardini unlawfully performed surgeries on animals stem from procedures she allegedly performed to shorten tails and to remove an extra claw from an animal, officials said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed the case against Berardini in February, after an investigation by the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority.

SEAACA Capt. Aaron Reyes said officials began their probe after the agency received at least 10 independent complaints about Berardini. After serving a search warrant on her store and home in January, SEAACA received about 40 more calls, he said.

Berardini, who has been in business for about 30 years, has said she is innocent. Her attorney William Kennon has said that she has done nothing wrong.

Kennon also said that SEAACA officials have accused Berardini of animal cruelty, but none of the counts she is facing involve that specific charge.

"There appears to have been no evidence that would justify that charge,' he said.

He said since the charges were filed, many of Berardini's customers have come by to offer her support.  Berardini is scheduled to return to court on May 6 for a pretrial hearing, a Downey Superior Court clerk said.

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