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NEW YORK -- A Brooklyn teenager is facing two-years in prison for killing her brother's pet hamster.
Monique Smith, 19, is charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly killing the 4-ounce hamster during a family dispute last June.
Witnesses say the girl grabbed the hamster, choked it and threw it outside the house.
Authorities say the teenager suspected her brother of killing her own hamster earlier in the day.
"Sadly, very often, pets find themselves in the middle of these situations," said ASPCA Assist. Dir., Joe Pentangelo.
"A family will have a disagreement and unfortunately the animal is the recipient of misdirected or redirected rage."
The hamster died from blunt force trauma, liver damage and a brain hemorrhage, he said.
Monique Smith, 19, is charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly killing the 4-ounce hamster during a family dispute last June.
Witnesses say the girl grabbed the hamster, choked it and threw it outside the house.
Authorities say the teenager suspected her brother of killing her own hamster earlier in the day.
"Sadly, very often, pets find themselves in the middle of these situations," said ASPCA Assist. Dir., Joe Pentangelo.
"A family will have a disagreement and unfortunately the animal is the recipient of misdirected or redirected rage."
The hamster died from blunt force trauma, liver damage and a brain hemorrhage, he said.
