Prosecutor: Cape May Mom Made Child Wear Dog’s Shock Collar

A Cape May woman has been charged with an awful allegation of child abuse. The Cape May Prosecutor's Office says Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, 30, made her child wear a dog's shock collar.

Marks from the collar were noticed by teachers at the school the child attends and reported to the police.

Mother, Grandmother Arrested

In a statement on Friday, the Cape May County Prosecutor said Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano was arrested along with her mother Sonia Feliciano, 59, after her child arrived at school with “visible marks on their body” on March 17.

Officials say it appears the injuries came from an electric dog shock collar that belonged to the family’s dead dog.

6ABC reports that the child was discovered to have worn the collar “at all times in the home,” according to a criminal complaint.

The mother and grandmother both live on Broad Street Court in Cape May, according to prosecutors.

The child told police that the collar “was kept in a bedroom” along with other items belonging to the dog and was “charged regularly” after the dog died.

The child was threatened with more violence by the mother if they told anyone about the abuse, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said.

Charges in the Case

The CMCPO Special Victims Unit and Cape May City Police Department took part in a joint investigation of the mother and grandmother leading to the pair’s arrest.

The mother was charged with two second-degree counts of aggravated assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of first-degree witness tampering with threat of force, and one count of third-degree hindering.

Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano is being held at Cape May County Correctional Center

Sonia Feliciano was charged with hindering and tampering with evidence. She was released pending a court appearance.