Photo: Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
Police in Florida have arrested a 43-year-old woman who allegedly admitted she drowned her dog because the animal was biting her and barking too much.
Police allege Kinsella took her adult Labrador retriever out of its kennel for a walk, the arrest report states. The animal’s age and name were not disclosed in the report.
Kinsella later returned with the dog, according to the maintenance worker, before leading the animal into the bathroom.
The worker reported hearing “loud screaming” from both Kinsella and the dog. He told police that he cracked the bathroom door open and asked Kinsella if she needed assistance with the animal, “and Margaret refused,” the report states.
Within five minutes, “even louder screaming” started coming from the bathroom. When the maintenance worker went to check on Kinsella, he said he saw the dog floating in the tub, the arrest report states.
The arrest report alleges police spoke with Kinsella when they first arrived at her home, and “Margaret admitted to purposely drowning her dog.”
It adds: “She stated, ‘I drowned my dog.’ She stated she became so upset with her dog barking all the time and biting her that her anger built up and she drowned the dog.”
Kinsella was charged with third-degree felony animal cruelty on Dec. 17, after the results of a necropsy on her Labrador retriever confirmed it was drowned.
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Kinsella was released from jail after posting a $5,000 bond. She is due in court on Jan. 10, at which time she’ll be asked to enter a plea to the charge against her.
PEOPLE was unable to reach her for comment, and it was unclear Friday if she has retained an attorney.
Under Florida law, she faces a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
source: people.com
