Former mayor’s doggone shame
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A former mayor accused of secretly keeping her neighbors’ dog after telling them the pet had died reached a plea deal. Grace Saenz-Lopez pleaded no contest Tuesday to filing a false police report, a misdemeanor. She’ll pay a $300 fine and serve 48 hours of community service and two years’ probation.
The former mayor of Alice claimed the Shih Tzu named Puddles died last year while she was pet-sitting for neighbors Rudy Gutierrez and Shelly Cavazos. Three months later, a relative of the neighbors saw the dog.
Saenz-Lopez said the dog had been neglected, but a judge ordered her to return it. She had faced two felony counts.
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