St Andrew Woman Fined for Cruelty After Bagging Neighbour’s Dogs

A 60-year-old woman has found herself on the wrong side of the law after admitting to capturing and disposing of her neighbour’s dogs — an act caught on camera and described by the judge as both shocking and disappointing.

Colleen Samuels was on Tuesday sentenced in the St Andrew Parish Court to pay $20,000 or serve 30 days in prison after pleading guilty to cruelty to animals.

The incident, which took place on September 19, 2024, involved Samuels being seen on video placing two Shih Tzu dogs into a rice bag and driving away with them. She later confessed to getting rid of the animals, whose fate remains unclear.

The case drew public outrage after the footage circulated online, with animal lovers and residents calling for swift justice.

In court, Judge Sanchia Burrell made her stance clear:

“Miss Samuels, sentences are not just to communicate to you but to other members of society… These dogs did not belong to you. I watched the video. We must treat animals with kindness.”

She continued:

“The purpose of my sentence is to punish you a little bit because you are a big woman. You know what you did wrong.”

Samuels’ attorney claimed her actions were driven by frustration, citing the poor condition of the dogs and the alleged neglect by their owner.
“Miss Samuels has dogs of her own,” the lawyer argued. “It wasn’t cruelty — it was frustration over how badly those dogs were being kept.”

But Judge Burrell wasn’t moved.

“You should have reported it. You don’t take matters into your own hands.”

Samuels’ health concerns were taken into consideration, but the court held firm that there had to be accountability.

This case now stands as a firm warning to the public: whether it’s a mutt or a pedigreed pup, animal cruelty carries consequences.