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Norwalk, CA
…The Los Angeles County DA's office formally charged Beatrice
Godinez Castillo of Norwalk with felony animal cruelty for allegedly
beating her son's dog with a shovel while it was tied in the front
yard of its Bayla Street home. "The dog died from its injuries and
the body is being held under Safekeep at the SEAACA animal care
center," said Captain Aaron Reyes, SEAACA's Director of Operations.
Mrs. Castillo, who is 90 years old, was not taken into custody
because of her age.
SEAACA's dispatch
center received a call from a neighbor of Castillo's complaining
that a dog was being beaten with a shovel. SEAACA officers responded
and conducted an exhaustive animal cruelty investigation, which led
to the criminal case being forwarded to the DA's office, asking for
felony animal cruelty charges against Castillo. "This is a sad case
for a few reasons – the obvious being the poor dog that took this
beating and couldn't even escape, and another being the age and
possible mental state of the suspect," Reyes stated. "We're hoping
that Castillo will receive a mental evaluation at some point during
the process, which may land her in a care facility instead of a jail
cell," said Reyes. Regardless of the outcome of the court process
for Castillo, SEAACA officials felt a strong concern for public and
animal safety in the neighborhood and are pleased that the DA acted
so quickly in getting Castillo into the system.
Castillo is
scheduled to be arraigned in Bellflower Superior Court on May 13,
2008 at 8 am, in Department 3. |
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Animal
Law Enforcement & Rescue
