A woman was arrested Saturday morning after police say she used pepper spray on several dogs through a fence at a dog park in Cape Coral.
According to the Cape Coral Police Department, officers were called to Wagging Tails Dog Park at Rotary Park just before 9 a.m. after reports that a woman in her 60s was spraying something at multiple dogs while walking outside the fenced-in area.
One caller said a dog had to have its eyes flushed after being sprayed.
When officers arrived, a witness identified the woman and said she sprayed dogs whenever they came close to the fence, even though they were still inside the enclosure.
Other dog owners reported similar behavior, telling officers their pets were in pain and one had to be hosed down to relieve the irritation. Several witnesses also claimed the woman admitted to using the spray if dogs got too close.
Officers spoke with the woman, identified as Charlene J. Tedesco, 67, who said she used pepper spray on the dogs' feet because she feared they might attack her.
Police noted the dog park is surrounded by a 5-foot fence and determined there was no immediate threat to her safety. They concluded she had intentionally caused harm to the animals.
Tedesco was taken to the Lee County Jail and faces one count of animal cruelty under Florida law. She was also given a trespass warning and is no longer allowed at the park.
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