 One pound of matting removed from dog's body
Hillsborough, CA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 7, 2005
County: San Mateo
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Abuser/Suspect: Anita Tolentino
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A Hillsborough woman was sentenced to one year of probation in San Mateo County court after she pleaded no contest to animal cruelty. Anita Tolentino was charged with animal cruelty after her Shih Tzu Benji was found wandering around near Tolentino's home on June 7, according to the Peninsula Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
A neighbor who found Benji took the dog to the PHS/SPCA in hopes of reconnecting the lost pup with his owner. It was at the PHS/SPCA that staff members discovered Benji's hair was severely matted, forming a cast-like covering around sections of his body. According to PHS/SPCA officials, it took PHS/SPCA humane investigator Debi DeNardi, a veterinarian and a veterinary technician about 80 minutes to remove more than one pound of matting from the dog's body.
Once the matt was removed, staff members located an identification tag on Benji, which ultimately led investigators to Tolentino, officials reported.
"People incorrectly assume that mistreatment of animals, like mistreatment of children, occurs only in certain neighborhoods," DeNardi said. "But we know that animal neglect and abuse cross all boundaries."
About a week after he was brought to the PHS/SPCA, Benji was made available for adoption and was adopted by a family from Pescadero, officials reported.
In addition to one year of probation, Tolentino must also pay the PHS/SPCA $687 in restitution. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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