CALIFORNIA -- A dog owner has been convicted of felony animal cruelty for fatally beating his pet after she chewed up a blanket, city officials said Thursday.
Thomas Uhlenkott, 49, of North Hollywood pleaded no contest Wednesday to animal cruelty, said Karen Knipscheer, captain at the East Valley Animal Shelter.
"This is a serious crime,'' Knipscheer said. "We actually got a felony conviction, and that's rare. It's a proud accomplishment because we actually got a witness to appear from out of state when many witnesses fail to follow through.''
Uhlenkott has undergone anger management classes and counseling, according to Knipscheer, and will be sentenced April 14.
In another case, officials said they impounded 127 animals Tuesday from a home in the 10900 block of Foothills Avenue in Lake View Terrace, where they also found 35 dead animals stuffed into a freezer.
An investigation is ongoing, and criminal charges may soon be filed, officials said.
(LA Daily News - March 4, 2005)
