Woman strangles dog to death, deputies report - Sarasota Herald-Tribune ~ Giga Dog

OSPREY - An Osprey woman was arrested after deputies said she strangled her 7-year-old dog with its leash.A tip led police to Shelley Bezanson, 28, of the 40 block of West Oak Street, after they say she killed her healthy pit bull-mix named Diamond and tried to bury the animal at her mother's Venice home on Base Avenue.Sarasota County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Wendy Rose called the incident a "horrible story — particularly when you have so many willing rescue groups to help take the dog and give it a forever home."Bezanson told police that she would have been evicted if she did not get rid of Diamond, but did not want anyone else to have the dog.Between October and November of 2013, police said Bezanson called her veterinarian's office multiple times seeking to euthanize Diamond. The veterinarian refused, because Diamond was healthy, and directed Bezanson to several local rescue groups who would have likely taken in Diamond.But Bezanson refused that advice, police said."The vet would not put Diamond down, so I did," Bezanson said, according to a probable cause affidavit.On Nov. 14, Bezanson allegedly strangled Diamond using the dog's chain leash and turned up the music in her apartment so her neighbors would not hear her.Bezanson told detectives that she had to kill her dog because it was old, sick and suffering, contrary to what the veterinarian said.She ultimately told deputies that she regretted what she did and wished she would have found someone else to take care of the dog."I promised Diamond we would be together until the end," Bezanson allegedly said. "And this was the end."Bezanson also owned a kitten and a domesticated rat when she was arrested. In an interview with police, she allegedly added that she plans to adopt another dog.Bezanson was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. She is being held at the Sarasota County Jail on $25,000 bond.EARLIER: An Osprey woman was arrested after police allege she cruelly strangled her 7-year-old dog.A tip led police to Shelley Bezanson, 28, of the 40 block of West Oak Street, after they say she killed her healthy dog, Diamond, and tried to bury the animal at a Venice home on Base Avenue.According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Bezanson tried to persuade her veterinarian to euthanize Diamond last fall.But the veterinarian refused because Diamond was not sick and there was no justifiable reason to euthanize the dog, the report said.The veterinarian's staff encouraged Bezanson to give the dog to the Sarasota Humane Society so it could be adopted.Instead, police said, Bezanson killed Diamond in November. A necropsy revealed the dog likely suffered a prolonged and painful death.Police arrested Bezanson last Friday and charged her with cruelty to animals. She is being held at the Sarasota County Jail on $25,000 bail.

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Woman strangles dog to death, deputies report - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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