Dog groomer Celeste Rainone told a Baltimore County judge Monday that she likely beat a 14-year-old poodle to death because she was having a “panic attack.”
“I?m sorry that I snapped, but I just can?t control it,” Rainone, 53, said in Baltimore County District Court. “There was no intent to hurt Rajah or no malice.”
But Judge Barbara Jung said she couldn?t believe Rainone, a Shrewsbury, Pa., resident, was still grooming animals after the judge convicted her of animal cruelty and mutilation in the Feb. 17 death of poodle Rajah.
“I?m sure [Rajah?s owner] wakes up at night thinking about Rajah?s last day on Earth,” Jung said before sentencing Rainone to three months in jail. The judge also ordered Rainone to stop grooming other animals. The Baltimore County government has not revoked her grooming license, despite the conviction.
Rajah?s owner, Nancy Pine, a Baldwin resident, said she was tired of hearing Rainone?s “constant excuses.”
“This dog was beat to death, and she needs to be held accountable for that,” Pine said. “She took a life.”
The groomer is charged with a second case of animal cruelty against a 4-year-old Maltese named Chesney. That case is set for a Nov. 27 trial in Baltimore County District Court.
Rainone?s attorney, James Farmer, said that publicity about the case destroyed the groomer?s business.
At noon on Feb. 16, Pine took her poodle to Grooming by Celeste at 5235 Hydes Road in Baltimore County in “completely healthy” condition, according to Pine.
But the dog was noticeably different when he returned home at 7 p.m. He was “cold, wet and minimally responsive,” according to a report by veterinarian Patti Brennan of Falls Road Animal Hospital. Rajah died soon afterward.
According to an anima necropsy conducted on Rajah, the dog suffered from blunt trauma to the head, face, liver and other organs.
A neighbor of Rainone?s testified in court she heard a loud noise the day Rajah was injured and rushed to check on Rainone, who was acting upset and irrational.
Rainone testified that Rajah bit her twice while she was grooming the 14-year-old poodle.
During the October trial, prosecutor Matthew Breault played a recorded cell phone message Rainone left for Pine after the incident.
In the message, Rainone threatened to sue Pine for defamation.
“I?m going to put your phone number on every bathroom stall in Baltimore County,” Rainone said on the message.
