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Rajah's killer gets jail time
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Related Topics: Baltimore County
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Rajah, a 14-year-old poodle, died at the hands of a Baltimore County groomer. The groomer was sentenced to three months in jail.
Baltimore County (Map, News) - Dog groomer Celeste Rainone told a Baltimore County judge Monday that she likely beat a 14-year-old poodle to death because she was having a “panic attack.”
“I’m sorry that I snapped but I just can’t control it,” Rainone, 53, said in Baltimore County District Court. “… There was no intent to hurt Rajah or no malice.”
But Judge Barbara Jung said she couldn’t believe Rainone, a Shrewsbury, Pa., resident, was still grooming animals after the judge convicted her of animal cruelty and mutilation in the Feb. 17 death of Rajah, a 14-year-old poodle.
“I’m sure [Rajah’s owner] wakes up at night thinking about Rajah’s last day on earth,” Jung said before sentencing Rainone to three months in jail. The judge also ordered Rainone to stop grooming other animals.
The Baltimore County government has not revoked her grooming license, despite the conviction.
Rajah’s owner, Nancy Pine, a Baldwin resident, said she was tired of hearing Rainone’s “constant excuses.”
“This dog was beat to death, and she needs to be held accountable for that,” Pine said. “… She took a life.”
The groomer is charged with a second case of animal cruelty against a 4-year-old Maltese named Chesney. That case is set for a Nov. 27 trial in Baltimore County District Court.
Rainone’s attorney James Farmer said that publicity about the case have destroyed the groomer’s business.
At noon on Feb. 16, Pine took her poodle to Grooming by Celeste at 5235 Hydes Road in Baltimore County in “completely healthy” condition, according to Pine.
But the dog was noticeably different when he returned home at 7 p.m. He was “cold, wet and minimally responsive,” according to a report by veterinarian Patti Brennan of Falls Road Animal Hospital. Rajah died soon afterward.
According to an animal autopsy — called a necropsy — conducted on Rajah, the dog suffered from blunt trauma to the head, face, liver and other organs.
A neighbor of Rainone’s testified in court she heard a loud noise the day Rajah was injured and rushed to check on Rainone, who was acting upset and irrational.
Rainone testified that Rajah bit her twice while she was grooming the 14-year-old poodle.
During the Oct. 1 trial, prosecutor Matthew Breault played a recorded cell phone message Rainone left for Pine after the incident.
In the message, Rainone threatened to sue Pine for defamation.
“I’m going to put your phone number on every bathroom stall in Baltimore County,” Rainone said on the message.
lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com
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Meka said:
I will bet Celeste Ranione will take her business out of state and do it all over again. There should be a data base for people to find out if these groomers had cases of animal cruelty just like they have records for medical personnel. What an evil and despicable woman. May she rot in hell.
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Meka said:
I had a poodle and know they can be finicky, but that dog probably bit her because she was trying to kill it. I took my dog to a groomer and the only comment she said was that she had to put a muzzle on the dog because he didn't like his feet handled. I agreed and the dog was fine. That is the difference between a professional and a sadist. The area where this occurred is a high rent area which goes to show there are sickos everywhere.
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This groomer needs to be mishandled the way she handled the animals and should be ordered to close her business. Let some of the inmates know about this and they will take the necessary course of 'jail justice' that the 'system' cannot seem to provide. Animals are like small people and need to be treated accordingly.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Glen Burnie Dog Lover said:
This is for the response of animals are just "live stock" I think that is a comment that proves your a friend of the sicko who killed that poor little dog. Your so called live stock is all some people have and you should think before you talk. As far as the whack job that did this to that little puppy I only hope that she meets someone while shes in jail that shares the same attitude as the rest of us. I never comment on this things but I couldn't help but respond. If there is anything that anyone can do to keep that nut in jail longer please post it on here. Id be happy to help in anyway. I also have a poodle and shes lucky that its wasn't him that she did that to.
37 agree | 38 disagree
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Pet Lover said:
This is for the person or shall I say "property" who thinks thats the whack job who beat that poor little puppy to death should only be charged with property damgage. You must be as sick as she is and if you feel so strongly for her defense why don't you let her groom your pets because you sound like the two of you have something in commom no brain or heart.
56 agree | 30 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How can anyone harm an animal, no matter what it is. This person is sick and should definitely pay for what she did. It is very unfortunate that she was not closed up before the poodle had to die. She definitely should never work again with animals.
67 agree | 34 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There is no God, it is all a legend in your own mind.
71 agree | 39 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Whether a dog, cat, alligator, ferret, parakeet, horse, hamster, gerbil, goldfish or "sea monkeys", they all have the capacity for "unconditional love" because they are fed and cared for. They are entertainment and companionship in the US, but pretty much everywhere else, most of them are considered a food source. Given the choice to save a human baby or a pet, I would hope that everyone would choose the baby, but apparently there are people so sick that they think an animal is more important. While this groomer has committed a crime, it is not the same as human torture and legally should fall closer to property damage.
60 agree | 46 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Any sick person who hurts a animal is so sick and twisted most of them are vulnerable and defense less like a child i hope and pray that she is never in the position where she is defenseless and some twisted person like herself has to care for her that would really be horrible!!!!! HELL NO
64 agree | 40 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To the Examiner Reader who stated in an earlier post that "Its just a dog"...maybe you should follow the Yellow Brick Road, make an appointment with the wizard and ask for a heart!!! I can honestly say once again....the more dealings I have with humans, the more respect I have for my DOG!!!
44 agree | 40 disagree
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Reads with eyes, not with skin said:
Whatever happened to "man's best friend"?
62 agree | 45 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Leave Max out of this; he is in cat heaven now. Wish I was there with him. :(
59 agree | 38 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i think this groomer should loose her licence.
73 agree | 66 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
3 months in jail is not enough for this evil women. May she spend all of the holidays in jail and then some.HAPPY HOLIDAYS MURDERER !!!!
51 agree | 37 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm glad to see all of Nancy Pines friends have computers to send their comments to the Examiner.
72 agree | 80 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How long has this groomer been in business?? Sounds like someone is out to get her, when all of a sudden this is popping up.I guess money does talk!!!!
42 agree | 42 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I also had a similer thing happen to my dog Spanky. I took him to a groomer that works at the Doctor's office,When I went to pick him up,he was hurting badly on his left hind leg,I think its the way they strap the dog in to get a hair cut.But I didn't know what to do,ever since then my dog can no longer get up any steps,he's got to be carried.Do Groomer have insurance? My heart bleeds for that owner and her dog.Sending the groomer to jail isn't going to bring the dog back.The groomer shouldn't be allowed to groom anymore in any state.The dogs are like family,when they die of old age its one thing,but die from cruelty is hard to swallow in any case,Human or Animal.Norm in Catonsville.
67 agree | 36 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It's just a dog. They are livestock for food in the majority of the world. She should be punished for cruelty, but dogs and humans are not equals.
62 agree | 37 disagree
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examiner reader said:
how about the repeat offender rules applying to this woman, who is no human.
62 agree | 31 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
She should have gotten more time. This story sickens me. I can't believe she is still grooming animals; that the state hasn't revoked her license.
85 agree | 87 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank you Nancy Pine for being such a defender of animal rights....Rajah can now rest in peace.....mpb
80 agree | 71 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
She should not be allowed to care for any living animal or human . If she can kill a dog she can kill a person. Shame on the licensing board and animal control . Isn't that their job!!!!
77 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Baltimore County government has not revoked her grooming license, despite the conviction. HA!! Go Figure!!!! Baltimore Co government should be ashamed of themselves for this. They should have revoked that evil womans license months ago. I hope that no other owner or animal falls victim to such a senseless act. As for Ms.Rainone may you meet the same fate at the hands of someone who is having a "panic attack"
100 agree | 68 disagree
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