Woman pleads guilty to killing dog while petsitting

ODENTON, Md. -- A 21-year-old Crofton woman has pleaded guilty to helping a man shoot a pit bull to death while they were petsitting.

Sarah Nicole Tavenello was convicted Friday on conspiracy to commit animal cruelty.

In February, Tavenello's friend was recovering from surgery and asked her and 25-year-old Phillip Balboni to care for her pitbull.

The two cared for the dog but needed the owner to come get it. Their friend needed a few hours before picking up the dog. Police say the two told the owner they couldn't wait and shot the dog to death at a park in Odenton.

Tavenello's sentencing is scheduled for July 2. Balboni's trial on charges of mutilating an animal is scheduled for July 23.

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=1703868&nid=25

 

WTF is wrong with people?

 

what the hell is wrong with people.....

 

WTF?:confused: I hope they throw the book at them

 

Happy Birthday to me... July 2nd is my birthday... My birthday wish is that these animal abusers get everything they deserve!

What the hell they couldn't wait an extra few hours?? I bet they did something to the dog prior to that, made up an excuse and then shot the dog.

 

What do you want to bet that drugs were involved in some manner by one or more person involved?

 

Need to be careful who you let take care of your animals.They're lucky it wasn't my dog is all I can say.

 

wtf? with friends like that who the hell needs enemies?

 

Thats crazy, some people are just sick in the head.
If I could only get them in a room alone for 5 minutes:mad::mad::mad:

 

Update...

Crofton man guilty in pit bull's death


Faces up to 6 months behind bars

By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer
Published 08/23/09
A Crofton man pleaded guilty Friday to shooting a pit bull to death in February while he was supposed to be petsitting the animal.

Philip Joseph Balboni, 25, faces up to six months in jail in the death of the 4-year-old dog, Habebee, as part of a plea agreement with the state.
But Leonette Rawls, the dog's owner, said outside the courtroom that Balboni deserves the maximum punishment for felony animal cruelty - three years.

"This was a senseless crime that never should have happened," said Rawls, who was recovering from laser eye surgery when Balboni and his girlfriend, Sarah Nicole Tavenello, 21, also of Crofton, conspired to kill her animal companion, Habebee.

Assistant State's Attorney Kimberly DiPietro said Balboni and Tavenello - a friend of Rawls' family - took in Habebee on Feb. 11 when her owner went to the hospital. Balboni's landlord, however, found out about the dog Feb. 25 and told him it had to go.

Balboni and Tavenello called Rawls that day and said they couldn't watch the dog any more. But when Rawls said she needed three hours to track down a ride and come over, they told her they couldn't wait and that they would have to take the dog to Animal Control.

"They couldn't give me any time," Rawls recalled.

Instead of taking Habebee to Animal Control in Millersville, Balboni took dog to Patuxent Ponds Park in Odenton about 5:30 p.m., led it into the woods and shot it two times.

"They decided to shoot it because they could find no one to take it," DiPietro said in court. She noted that if Balboni had called Animal Control, he would have realized they dispatch officers until 10:30 p.m.

Witnesses saw Balboni bring the dog to the park and leave without it. They also heard the shots and found pet's body, DiPietro said.

Police recovered the body and - with the help of a microchip imbedded under the dog's skin - managed to contact Rawls before she could call Animal Control. After a two-week investigation, police charged Balboni and Tavenello.

"My pit bull was very docile. She wasn't mean," Rawls told the court, noting that the dog's name means "Dear One" in Egypt.
"She was a wonderful dog and companion."

Tavenello pleaded guilty in July to one count of conspiracy to commit animal cruelty. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but a judge suspended the entire sentence.

Balboni pleaded guilty Friday to felony animal cruelty. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop lesser charges and ask for a sentence within state sentencing guidelines.

DiPietro said guidelines recommend Balboni receive up to six months when he is sentenced next month.

 

how sad.......and pathetic of them,and our jury system....It makes me sick to think that if someone shot my dogs (they are my kids,dont plan on actually having "real" ones) that that they would go sit in a min. security, laid back, easy going cell for maybe 6 months (bet they will get out early).....