KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ A Kansas City woman accused of tossing a dog off a third-floor balcony pleaded guilty Thursday to felony and misdemeanor animal abuse and abandonment charges in Jackson County Court.
Kimberly Anderson, 38, entered an Alford plea, which meant prosecutors had enough evidence to win a conviction if the case had gone to trial.
Anderson agreed to enter the Jackson County Mental Health Court and to have no contact with or own any animals in the future, Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said in a written statement.
Anderson was ordered to pay $200 restitution to the Kansas City Pet Project and serve 120 days of shock time in the county detention center. Her sentence was suspended, and she will remain on probation for three years, Baker said.
Authorities said Anderson threw the small dog known as Roadrunner from a balcony on Nov. 9, 2014. She also was accused of slamming and kicking the dog to the ground, choking him with a leash and then leaving him outside overnight.
Roadrunner sustained a fractured pelvis as a result of the fall. His injuries were so severe that a veterinarian had to remove Roadrunner's eyes. In January 2015, Roadrunner was adopted by a Kansas City Pet Project staff member.
"We're so pleased today that a felony animal abuse conviction was obtained and that this dog's family and the shelter's staff and volunteers can now have closure in this case," said Tori Fugate, a spokeswoman for the Pet Project.
"This is one of the first felony animal abuse convictions in Jackson County, and we hope that this will set the bar for future cases to be heard by the courts for similar circumstances of abuse or neglect."
Anderson could be sentenced to four years in prison if she fails to follow any sentencing condition.
