Dog beaten to death in store Long Beach, CA (US) Incident Date: Friday, Jul 16, 1999 County: Los Angeles Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Norma Torrico

Case ID: 3288 Classification: Beating Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Big Kmart employee charged with beating to death a stray Chihuahua-mix dog that had wandered into the store was sentenced to 90 days in jail Wednesday.

Norma Torrico, 24, pleaded no contest in Long Beach Municipal Court to one count of crimes against animals. The misdemeanor charge arose from a July 16 incident in which she used a 20-pound weightlifting bar to repeatedly strike the 10 pound dog.

Her sentence, imposed by Commissioner John Ing, is scheduled to begin Nov 5.

Torrico's plea, which has the effect of a guilty plea, brought her three years formal probation, a $1,000 fine and $335 in restitution - most of which will go to Long Beach Animal Control.

About a dozen animal rights activists who attended the arraignment to protect Torrico's actions said they were satisfied that justice had been done.

"We're pleased that she will be doing some jail time," said Nancy Ertel, 57, a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, adding: "I do hope she gets help."

Torrico, who requested that she be able to do community service in lieu of the fine, declined comment following the arraignment. Her request will be considered Nov 5.

It was just after closing time July 16 when employees of The Big Kmart in North Long Beach noticed a black and white dog wandering in the store, said Wayne Besenty, Long Beach Animal Control's sernior officer.

Torrico and a supervisor chased the dog around the store for 10 to 30 minutes, Besenty said, eventually cornering it in the layaway department. The supervisor left, however, when a security officer arrived, Besenty said.

The security officer reported seeing Torrico hit the dog three times, presumably on the leg, Besenty said. The officer told Besenty he then threw a fishing net over the dog and placed it in a trash can before leaving. No one saw Torrico deliver the fatal blows, Besenty said.

A few minutes later, employees said, the dog was found dead on the floor in a pool of blood. Torrico left work that day and never returned, Besenty said. She was later fired.

A necropsy revealed that the dog's front leg was fractured in two places and its spleen was ruptured. In addition, eight impact spots were found on the dog's body and skull.

Besenty said he found 17 indentations in a wall near the site of the beating, indicating where Torrico had struck the wall with the metal rod.

In an interview with Besenty, Torrico said she felt threatened by the dog and thought it might bite her. But Besenty doubted the dog was doing more than a little growling and barking inside the store.

"This animal in no way put up any sort of a fight toward the end there," he added.

Kmart officials, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon, have cooperated fully with the investigation, Besenty said. Kmart managers and employees at the North Long Beach store came forward with statements, he said.

The remaining question protesters tried to answer Wednesday was why such a thing would happen.

"She just lost it," surmised Jo Ann Smith, a 56 year old member of Friends of the Long Beach Animal Shelter, who wore a dog T-shirt and a red bandanna symbolizing the blood of the Chihuahua. "It was totally a vicious act."

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Press-Telegram Long Beach CA - Sept 2, 1999

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