The Baltimore County dog groomer convicted of beating a poodle to death in a fit of rage was back in court Tuesday and
found guilty of harming another animal ? this one escaped with its life.
Celeste Rainone, 53, a Shrewsbury, Pa., resident, pleaded not guilty to an animal cruelty charge in Baltimore County District Court, but she did not contest facts presented by prosecutors.
Rainone has already served part of a 90-day sentence for the previous animal cruelty and mutilation conviction stemming from Rajah the poodle?s death, and she is now on three years of supervised probation. As part of a plea agreement, Rainone agreed Tuesday to withdraw her appeal for that case and in return, Baltimore District Judge Barbara Jung will terminate Rainone?s probation for this case.
“I?m not going to yell at you like I did last time,” Jung told Rainone before finding her guilty.
Rainone hung her head throughout the hearing. She declined comment and rushed quickly from the courthouse to her car.
“I would love for this woman to never touch another animal again,” said Darlene Andrzejewski, the owner of Chesney, a 4-year-old Maltese who was groomed by Rainone on June 28, 2006.
Andrzejewski gathered with her husband and daughter outside of the courthouse Tuesday comparing photographs of Chesney as “a happy boy” to those of his bruised and bloodied body following the grooming session.
Andrzejewski said she was preparing to call Nancy Pine, the poodle?s owner, and tell her the good news ? that the plea agreement ensures Rainone cannot appeal her previous conviction and that Pine won?t have to return to court.
According to prosecutors, Chesney was “perfectly healthy” when Andrzejewski dropped him off to be groomed. But hours later, a man at the shop called to tell her that Chesney had bitten Rainone.
When Andrzejewski arrived after 5 p.m., Rainone was screaming that the dog must die. Chesney had blood around his nose and mouth, was covered in feces and urine and was limping on his back leg, according to prosecutors. After three visits to a veterinarian, Chesney made a full recovery.
Andrzejewski said she tried the following day to get Rainone?s grooming license revoked but was told to write a letter of complaint. She then heard about the poodle?s death on Feb. 17 and came forward with Chesney?s experience.
“It?s just a shame because if our plea was heard the first time, Nancy Pines? dog would not have died,” said Andrzejewski?s daughter Amber Andrzejewski.
