Pet Paradise employee arrested for animal cruelty

Sheila Baca, 37, of Los Lunas, was arrested July 22 for larceny and animal cruelty at Pet Paradise on Quantum Road.

According to a criminal complaint filed with the Sandoval County Magistrate Court, police were called to the Pet Paradise on a report where the caller said she was elbowed by her human resources representative.

Baca, the caller, told police her HR rep committed battery on her, though police found no evidence of it after watching video footage. Then, they went on to follow up with the HR rep.

The HR representative explained Baca had been terminated for animal cruelty and showed officers a video of Baca hitting a husky she was grooming multiple times. The husky was also not properly hooked up on the grooming table and kept falling off.

Baca also admitted to taking several items that didn't belong to her when she was terminated. When the manager searched her bags, as is policy when someone is terminated, they found items totaling to about $500.

Romo could face 10 or more years in prison if convicted.