Ex-dog owner gets year behind bars for botched amputations

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A Long Island woman who had her dog's leg cut off by a veterinary office worker is heading to prison.

Newsday reports 40-year-old Shawana Hughes was sentenced Wednesday to a year behind bars and received a five-year ban on owning animals.

Authorities say the Oyster Bay woman and her estranged husband, Lee, took their pit bull mix, Miss Harper, to a veterinary office worker instead of a licensed veterinarian. The dog was found with her ears and leg cut off following the botched amputations.

Shawana and Lee Hughes both have pleaded guilty unauthorized practice of a profession and aggravated animal cruelty. This was the second dog abuse case for the Hugheses.

Lee Hughes is being held without bail until his sentencing next week.