Cape Coral Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty for Pepper-Spraying Dogs

A woman in Cape Coral, Florida, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty after police say she used pepper spray on multiple dogs at Rotary Park Dog Park while walking outside its fenced perimeter. Witnesses reported that Charlene Tedesco, 67, sprayed dogs through the fence when they approached, causing at least one dog to yelp in pain and require its eyes to be flushed with water. Tedesco admitted to officers that she used pepper spray out of fear the dogs might attack her, though police determined there was no real threat due to the five-foot fence separating her from the animals. Multiple witnesses claimed this was not the first time she had sprayed dogs at the park. Tedesco was booked into Lee County Jail and has been issued a trespass warning, prohibiting her return to the park.