A veterinarian accused of altering the identity of a missing dog brought to her office last year has been arraigned on multiple charges, Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced.
Released by Tonawanda City Court Judge Mark Saltarelli pending a pre-trial conference on Oct. 28 is Kimberly A. Parkhill-Brown, 46, of the City of Tonawanda.
She is charged with two counts of first-degree falsifying business records, a Class E felony; three counts of second-degree falsifying business records, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of companion animal stealing. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
Prosecutors said the case involves a Yorkshire terrier named Benji that was brought into a City of Tonawanda veterinarian’s office where Parkhill-Brown worked on July 17, 2024, by someone who found the dog and wanted it scanned for an identifying microchip.
Benji’s owner, a Niagara County woman, was notified, then was told later that he was given back to the person who brought him in, according to prosecutors.
Entries in the dog’s patient log were changed from “dog found in the woods” to “itchy skin” and from “male” to “female spayed,” prosecutors said.
Subsequent log entries also changed the dog’s name twice and the microchip was replaced with new one, prosecutors added. After a tip led to an investigation, Benji was returned to his rightful owner.
Email danderson@buffnews.com.
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Dale Anderson
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