Shelter Aide Who Took Puppy Home Faces Trial
An animal shelter volunteer in Long Beach said she took a doomed puppy home to save it from being euthanized, but prosecutors charged her with petty theft and concealing an impounded animal.
Rori Ann O’Neill, 35, of Long Beach faces a Municipal Court jury trial Friday that could, if she is convicted, lead to a two-year jail sentence and a $2,000 fine.
O’Neill admits taking the puppy home without permission and finding a home for the animal. She contends the shelter is disorganized and prospective pet owners can’t tell which animals are available for adoption.
“Her heart might be in the right place, but that doesn’t help much when it is a matter of law,” said prosecutor John Vander Lans. “From what I read, this lady admitted taking a dog without paying for it, and that falls into petty theft.”
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