Dog groomer found guilty in canine death

The owner of a Green Valley dog care business was found guilty Tuesday in Green Valley Justice Court of animal cruelty for failing to seek medical attention for a dog that died in her care.

Carol Halstead, owner of The Groom Shop, 125 W. Calle de Las Tiendas, was found guilty by Justice Gail Wight after a four-hour bench trial. Sentencing is set for 1 p.m. Nov. 4.

The dog, Tai Ling, owned by Virginia Zenobi of Green Valley, had a dislocated hip and puncture marks on its rear end when it was returned to Zenobi on Nov. 17, 2007, and died on Nov. 18 at a Tucson animal hospital, Special Deputy Pima County Attorney Clinton Stinson told the court.

Documents in a separate civil lawsuit involving the same death say the dog was injured by other dogs at Halstead’s home in the rural Wrangler Ranch area west of Sahuarita, where it was kenneled.

Halstead made no effort to contact a veterinarian or obtain outside treatment for Tai-Ling, Stinson told the court.

Defense lawyer Anna Dennis said in opening arguments that Tai -Ling was 14 years old and seriously ill, had an undisclosed history of aggression and was cared for lovingly by the business owner after it had been in a fight with another dog.

“It was nobody’s fault. These are animals and these things happen,” Dennis said.

No crime was committed and there was no criminal intent, Dennis said.

Dennis said Halstead gently bathed the dog after discovering it had been in a scuffle with another dog and slept by its side, observing no signs of trauma or serious injury.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738