Animal cruelty conviction upheld

A 2008 animal cruelty conviction against a Green Valley dog groomer was upheld Tuesday, the same day sentencing was delayed in an unrelated animal-neglect case.

A Pima County Superior Court judge upheld the Oct. 28 conviction of Carol Halstead, owner of The Groom Shop.

In that case, decided by Green Valley Justice Court Judge Gail Wight, Halstead testified that she failed to contact a veterinarian or the dog’s owner after a dog owned by Virginia Zenobi of Green Valley was attacked by another dog while in Halstead’s care and suffered at least one puncture wound.

Zenobi’s dog died shortly after he was removed from Halstead’s care.

Also on Tuesday, sentencing in a separate case in which Halstead was found guilty of animal neglect was delayed until July 30 because her lawyer, Carl MacPherson, did not appear in court and instead telephoned in for the hearing. In that case, Halstead was accused of allowing a dog in her care to be attacked by another dog and not contacting the owner, Elizabeth Moore of Green Valley, or a veterinarian.

Halstead, 56, of unincorporated Sahuarita, was found guilty in that case following a May 28 bench trial before by Green Valley Justice Court Judge Pro Tem Thomas Johnson. The sentencing was delayed Tuesday when Halstead said she wanted MacPherson present to advise her.

Plaintiffs in two civil suits against Halstead have been awarded thousands of dollars. One is in the Zenobi case and the other is for an incident in which a dog owned by Paquin White and kennelled with Halstead was attacked.

Halstead declined comment this week; MacPherson was unavailable for comment.

In the past, Halstead’s supporters have pointed out that thousands of dogs have been in her care without incident.

Superior Court Judge Jane L. Eikleberry on Tuesday issued a written denial of an appeal filed by MacPherson, saying “the evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that the dog suffered injuries while under (Halstead’s) care that required treatment by a veterinarian.” She added that while Halstead “took steps to treat the injuries herself, she testified that she did not call a veterinarian, animal clinic or the dog’s owner.”

In the Zenobi case, Halstead was sentenced in November to 12 months’ probation, a fine and restitution of more than $4,000 and other sanctions.

Halstead remains under suspension by the American Kennel Club following several criminal violations in Nebraska in the 1990s. In May, she became eligible to end her 10-year suspension by the AKC, but she has not paid the $500 fine for violating the American Kennel Club Cruelty Conviction Policy and remains suspended, AKC spokeswoman Christina Duffney said.

The suspension means the AKC will not allow Halstead to use the club’s registration services or participate in AKC events.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738