Trenton Woman who fatally beat family dog gets probation, mental health care

TRENTON — A Trenton woman who authorities say used a shovel and claw hammer to fatally beat her family's dog and then bragged about it has been sentenced to two years of probation.

Twenty-year-old Michelle Wankoff will also have to receive mental health treatment as part of the sentence imposed Friday.

Mercer County prosecutors have said Wankoff was charged after Hightstown police got a tip that she had bragged about killing and burying the 9-year-old mixed breed dog named "Chuck" in July 2015.

Authorities say Wankoff initially tried to poison the dog with various medications. When that failed, they say she repeatedly hit the dog on the head with a shovel and claw hammer until it died.

Wankoff apparently kept the dog in a freezer before she buried it.

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