Victorville Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty After Her Ill Dog Walks into Hospital

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VICTORVILLE – A woman faces animal cruelty-related charges for knowing her dog was suffering from around 300 tumors and attempting to treat at least one of the large masses on the dog’s jaw with a rubber band officials said.

On August 7, 2017, a very ill Boston Terrier dog named ‘Pasha’ walked alone into Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach. When a reporting party noticed the ill dog’s deteriorating condition he reported it to authorities. Officers arrived to find the dog inside the Hoag’s chapel curled up and quivering in the corner. Responding Police from Newport Beach found that Mary Kay Sodaro, 52, of Victorville was the owner of the dog.

Sodaro did take the dog to the veterinarian several months ago, and again less than a week before the dog was found at the hospital. The veterinarian offered options including treatment or euthanization at no charge. Rather than accepting the veterinarian’s offer or beginning treatment for her dog, she believed the rubber band would help keep the tumor from growing. The Orange County District Attorney officials said that the rubber band became embedded on the tumor causing extreme pain for the dog. The dog was taken into the care of Animal Control, it is unknown if the dog was euthanized or the dog’s current condition.

Sodaro was charged with two misdemeanors including animal cruelty and allowing a pet to stray as a result of the incident. It is unclear why the dog was in Newport Beach. No additional information is available at this time.