A Connecticut couple had to learn the hard way that though strapping a shock collar around a 9-year-old child's neck may seem like an effective disciplinary tool, it's actually illegal!
Eduardo and Paula Montanez were arrested Tuesday after authorities discovered the pair had allegedly used a PetSafe shock collar—intended to train dogs not to bark—on a young girl as punishment for an unsatisfactory report card. Authorities told NBC NewYork that Eduardo Montanez "put the bark collar around her neck and forced her to bark so the collar would shock her." It's unclear whether the girl is their daughter—the child was reportedly "in the couple's care."
The young victim told her teacher about the collar, and though she said it happened only once, markings on her neck suggested it was a regular occurrence. Eduardo Montanez has been charged with third-degree assault, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and cruelty to a person. Paula, on account of her reported failure to stop the incident, was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault and conspiracy to commit cruelty to a person.
