A Florida woman, Elizabeth Jaimes, has been sentenced to more than five years behind bars after she was caught on camera abusing a Husky named Maya.
Jaimes confessed to repeatedly striking the dog with a rubber mallet. The disturbing footage captured Jaimes inflicting harm upon Kimberly Johns’ beloved pet.
According to prosecutors, Jaimes moved into a residence in Tampa with her boyfriend, his mother, and their Husky, Maya, in August 2022. Following the shocking revelation of abuse, both prosecutors and Johns vehemently advocated for a strict punishment for Jaimes, as reported by Fox 13.
Johns emotionally addressed the court during the sentencing hearing, stating, “What she did to Maya for 151 days, my dog lived in fear. It’s a living thing, and she just abused her and abused her, over and over.”
Initially a healthy canine, Maya’s condition deteriorated rapidly after Jaimes’ arrival. Johns noticed injuries on Maya’s head and sought veterinary care. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister revealed that Maya required medical attention multiple times, including treatment for a twisted toenail, staples in her head, and difficulty walking.
Concerned about Maya’s well-being, the veterinarian advised Johns to install a hidden camera to monitor the dog’s environment. Shockingly, the footage captured Jaimes striking Maya repeatedly with a mallet.
Prosecutor Karry Becker informed the judge, “Not counting the ongoing abuse starting from August of 2020, the defendant struck Maya 38 times with a mallet and 26 additional strikes.”
The severity of Maya’s injuries shocked the veterinary professionals. Fractured ribs, spinal injuries, and evidence of previous bone fractures, some re-broken after healing, indicated prolonged abuse.
Dr. Jerika Brooks, Lead Shelter Veterinarian for the Pet Resources Center, described Maya’s survival as miraculous during the court proceedings.
Jaimes pleaded for leniency, citing her history of abuse and claiming to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. She professed to have no memory of the abuse captured on camera.
“I don’t remember what I did that day, and I’ve been going to therapy because I’ve never done anything like that. I’ve never put my hands on anybody, but that doesn’t excuse it. So I just wanted to apologize,” Jaimes expressed.
However, both prosecutors and Johns doubted Jaimes’ sincerity, asserting that she showed no genuine remorse for her actions.
“One of us wouldn’t get away with it with a human, and she shouldn’t get away with it with an animal,” Johns emphasized.
Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez condemned the egregious nature of the crime, stating, “The crime was appalling. It was shocking. And, of course, the fact that it was captured on video made it even worse. So the judge was able to see what it is that Miss Jaimes did to Maya. In Hillsborough County, animal cruelty will not be tolerated.”
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