A city woman accused of throwing a puppy into a creek signaled that she would fight animal cruelty charges. Dianna M. Silenzio, 30, filled out papers to obtain a public defender.
Authorities allege that on April 3, Silenzio threw a 3-month-old Shepherd mix into Fenwick Creek. Silenzio lived with a Salem couple, who owned the female dog, according to authorities.
Speaking after her court appearance, she claimed the animal had bitten a 22-month-old child numerous times.
She said she did not want to call Animal Control because she did not want to see the dog put down.
"I'm not a mean person," said Silenzio, the mother of two children.
Edmund H. Shimp, the city's animal control officer, accused Silenzio of trying to get rid of the dog.
The dog swam to shore, but her behavior suggested she had been abused, Shimp said.
He approached the dog with a noose tied to a pole. Shimp said that when the dog saw the pole, she jumped into a groundhog hole.
Realizing the dog must have been abused, he discarded the pole and the dog approached him. The dog has since found a new home.
Shimp later filed three complaints against Silenzio for allegedly breaking a city ordinance and two ordinances from the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Silenzio had hoped to resolve the case quickly; she said that next month she is due to report to Army boot camp. But Shimp said he wants to see her military papers. Case Updates />
Woman strikes plea deal in case of animal cruelty
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
SALEM -- A Salem woman accused of animal cruelty -- throwing a puppy in a local creek -- pleaded guilty Monday to abandoning a puppy and a second offense.
The plea agreement also called for Dianna M. Silenzio, 30, to pay more than $1,000 in fines. Silenzio appeared relieved afterward, despite being a little lighter in the purse.
Edmund H. Shimp, the city's animal control officer, had alleged that last month, Silenzio threw a friend's dog into the Fenwick Creek. The dog, a 3-month-old shepherd mix renamed "Swimmer," survived the ordeal and since found a new home.
But last week, Silenzio appeared in court for the first time to face charges Shimp filed against her. She sounded eager to put the matter behind her; she is due later this month to report for basic training in the U.S. Army.
With the aid of a public defender, she worked out a plea bargain Monday that allowed her to avoid a trial.
Appearing Monday before a municipal court judge, she pleaded guilty to letting the animal run at large and abandoning the puppy. The municipal prosecutor, Adam I. Telsey, agreed to drop the charge of inflicting unnecessary cruelty.
She also must pay fines of $1,460, which she will pay on a schedule.
On Monday, Silenzio said she felt "glad that it's put behind me."
Last week, she indicated the dog had bitten a 22-month-old child around seven times. The dog was not hers, but belonged to a friend with whom she was living.
As a form of punishment, she said she let the dog loose, a dog which had found its way home before.
Shimp said afterward that he would have liked to see her perform community service as well. But the plea bargain did not call for that.
Silenzio said the municipal court case will not jeopardize her military status.
Afterward, Shimp credited Salem Police for their help in the case. | | |
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