DUI resulting in dog's death Portsmouth, NH (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 2, 2006 County: Rockingham Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Charges: Misdemeanor Abuser/Suspect: Lauren Cooper

Case ID: 11454 Classification: Vehicular Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in NH (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty in May 2007 to driving while intoxicated and animal cruelty, admitting her drunken driving was the cause of a crash that contributed to her dog's death.

Lauren Cooper, 46, of 6 Woodman Way, Newburyport, pleaded guilty to the charges in Portsmouth District Court, while represented by attorney James Loring. According to court records, Cooper had a blood alcohol level of .18 when she crashed her car into a tree at 921 Middle St. the evening of Nov. 2, 2006.

Prosecutor Corey MacDonald told the court that when Cooper crashed into the tree, one of her two dogs was injured so gravely, it had to be euthanized.

Loring told the court police had sufficient evidence to prove guilt on both counts and his client was accepting responsibility for the charges.

For driving while intoxicated, a first offense, Cooper was fined $500 and a $100 penalty assessment. She was also ordered to surrender her driver's license for nine months.

For her guilty plea to the cruelty to animals charge, Cooper was sentenced to 10 days in the Rockingham County House of Corrections, with all of it suspended pending her good behavior for one year. She was also fined $200.

Cooper told the court a second dog that was in her car at the time of the crash survived.

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References

Sea Coast Online - May 24, 2007

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