New Jersey mother charged for using dog shock collar

A mother from New Jersey has been charged after allegedly making her child wear a dog shock collar, which left marks on the child's neck. The incident came to light on March 17 when the child showed signs of abuse at school. Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, who is 30 years old, faces multiple charges. These include two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of aggravated assault. Prosecutors also charged her with witness tampering and hindering. The investigation began when school officials noticed the marks on the child. Cruz-Feliciano was arrested the next day after a joint investigation by the prosecutor's office and local police. Reports indicate that she threatened her child to keep quiet about the abuse. The child informed officers that the shock collar was found in a bedroom alongside items belonging to a deceased family dog. Cruz-Feliciano allegedly admitted to using the collar and even asked her mother to get rid of it. The grandmother, Sonia Feliciano, has also faced charges for hindering and tampering with evidence. She was released pending further court action. The Cape May County Prosecutor emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable members of the community and stated that child abuse allegations are taken seriously.