LOWELL, Mass. – A 30-year-old woman faced a judge in Lowell, Massachusetts on Tuesday after a video surfaced showing her committing an act of animal cruelty. Kimberly Hernandez was caught on camera kicking her dog multiple times and throwing it into an apartment on Westford Street. The distressing footage prompted an investigation, leading to Hernandez facing two counts of animal cruelty.
Neighbors expressed their shock and disbelief at the disturbing act captured on video and attended the court proceedings to witness the outcome of the case. Ann Isler, a neighbor, couldn’t fathom the cruelty displayed in the footage. Another neighbor, Darren Zenga, echoed Isler’s sentiments, stating, “It breaks my heart to see someone treat a living thing like that. It’s awful to see someone act like that.”
Hernandez admitted to the charges during her court appearance and informed the judge that she would be hiring her own attorney. Prosecutors revealed that investigating officers noted Hernandez’s emotional reaction upon viewing the disturbing footage. In addition to a $5,000 bail requirement, the judge ordered Hernandez to have no unsupervised contact with animals and to surrender all pets, including the dog she abused.
The video, which was deemed too distressing to be aired in full, depicted the woman subjecting her dog, named Rex, to physical abuse. Witnesses and neighbors expressed their horror and disbelief. While some residents expressed relief at the measures taken by the court, there remains a sense of dissatisfaction. Hernandez is scheduled to appear in court again next month.