Woodbridge Woman Arrested In Animal Cruelty Case: Police

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Prince William County Police Department officers arrested a woman Monday in connection with a case of animal cruelty that allegedly took place in Woodbridge between Jan. 8 and Jan. 28. Cristina Joya De Caballero, 35, was taken into custody at her residence in Woodbridge without incident and was charged with felony animal cruelty, police said Tuesday.

Prince William County animal control officers began an investigation Jan. 29 into a case of alleged animal cruelty at Joya De Caballero's residence in Woodbridge between Jan. 8 and Jan. 27. The investigation revealed that Joya De Caballero refused to provide necessary medical care for a life-threatening condition for a female Jack Russel Terrier, who was six weeks old at the time, according to police.

Joya De Caballero initially brought the puppy to a local veterinary clinic on Jan. 11 where the medical condition was diagnosed and immediate care recommended. She allegedly refused initial care and did not seek any additional treatment for the puppy until Jan. 27 when she attempted to surrender the puppy to the Prince William County Animal Shelter, according to the police department.

The puppy eventually received treatment for the condition at the Deepwood Veterinary Clinic and has since been adopted by new owners. Prior to her arrest on Monday, initial attempts by the police to locate Joya De Caballero were unsuccessful, the police department said.

A court date for Joya De Cabellero is pending, the police department said.