Animal rights activists protest court appearance of Kisha Curtis 5-6-2011

Kisha Curtis, picture here in a Star-Ledger file photo, listens to her defense attorney as she makes her first appearance before a judge at the Essex County Courthouse.

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger))

Patrick the pit bull in this March 2011 photo weighed just 19 pounds. He now weighs 51 pounds.

NEWARK — A 29-year-old woman charged with abusing Patrick — the pit bull whose rescue from the bottom of a trash chute in Newark sparked international outrage and hundreds of Facebook groups — pleaded guilty today to animal cruelty.

Kisha Curtis appeared before Judge Joseph Cassini III in Superior Court in Newark and pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty, a fourth-degree charge, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said. Curtis had been scheduled to go to trial Wednesday.

Curtis, who now lives in Irvington, faces up to 18 months in prison. However, authorities said Curtis probably won’t serve any jail time because she has no prior convictions.

She will be sentenced by Cassini on Aug. 29, when the judge will also rule on an ongoing custody battle for Patrick.

The emaciated 1-year-old dog was found wrapped in a plastic bag in a trash bin at the bottom of the garbage chute a day before St. Patrick’s Day in 2011 and was dubbed Patrick by rescuers.

Assistant Prosecutor Margarita Rivera, who handled the case with Assistant Prosecutor David Feldman, said she was pleased with Wednesday’s outcome, which also included Curtis giving up all legal rights to Patrick.

"She (Curtis) has taken responsibility for abusing Patrick, and we hope this result will serve as a deterrent to other people who think they can mistreat animals without any repercussions," Rivera said.

Curtis’ public defender, Deirdre McMahon, could not be reached for comment.

Patrick lives with Patricia Smillie-Scavelli, hospital administrator at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, where the pit bull was nursed back to health. Patrick weighed just 19 pounds when he was discovered and now tips the scale at 51 pounds, Smillie-Scavelli said last week.

However, Patrick is the subject of a legal dispute between the Associated Humane Societies, the City of Newark and Garden State Veterinary Specialists.

Patrick’s story sparked outrage from animal activists and led to an outpouring of donations from animal lovers worldwide. Garden State Veterinary Specialists said it stopped accepting donations due to the overwhelming response.

The Associated Humane Societies, which sent an animal control officer to the scene, tried to solicit donations to its shelter using Patrick’s popularity.

Several other groups, including people on Facebook, began selling Patrick T-shirts and other novelty items.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker held a fundraiser in the summer of 2011 to build a no-kill animal shelter that he called "Patrick’s Place," to the chagrin of the Associated Humane Societies, which operates its own shelter in Newark and provides animal control services in the city.

Booker’s spokesman, James Allen, said plans are underway to break ground on the new shelter by this fall.

"Everything is on track and moving forward," he said via e-mail.

Fundraising is still underway, Allen said, but he did not know how much money had been raised.

Patrick the Pit Bull: July 9 5 Gallery: Patrick the Pit Bull: July 9

RELATED COVERAGE

• Judge: Patrick the pit bull 'happy and healthy,' does not need inspection from animal welfare group

• Judge seals child welfare agency documents relating to woman charged in Patrick the pit bull case

• N.J. Senate committee approves 'Patrick's Law' bill upgrading animal cruelty penalties



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