She’s in the dog house now

A Long Beach woman was arrested on Sept. 23 and charged with a crime that occurred in her store in Oceanside.

Police say Diane Indelicato, 46, owner of Ruff House animal rescue shelter, 3208 Long Beach Road in Oceanside, had the complainant’s two pedigree dogs in her possession. One was a 3-year-old Maltypoo and the other was a 4-year-old Shihtzu, valued at $1,800 According to police, the two dogs were found running loose in Baldwin on Sept. 17 and were brought to Indelicato’s shelter. When the owner/complainant tried to recover her dogs, police say that she was rebuffed by Indelicato, who allegedly told the owner that the dogs had escaped from the shelter.

An investigation by the Nassau County Police Department lead to locating the dogs in New Jersey as well as Indelicato’s arrest. According to police, Indelicato claimed the dogs were abused and neglected, which is why she did not want to return them to the owner.

Indelicato was charged with criminal possession of stolen property. She was released on an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court on Oct. 14.