NJ Mother and Grandmother Arrested for Forcing Child to Wear Dog Shock Collar

A disturbing case of child abuse has shaken Cape May County, New Jersey, after authorities arrested a mother and grandmother accused of subjecting a young child to extreme punishment using a dog’s electric shock collar. Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, 30, and her mother, Sonia Feliciano, 59, face multiple charges following an investigation triggered by visible injuries the child sustained from the device.

The Collar’s Dark Legacy
The child arrived at school on March 17 with physical evidence of abuse, prompting immediate intervention by school staff and law enforcement. Investigators discovered that the child had been forced to wear the collar “at all times” in the home, even after the family’s dog had died. The device, recharged and stored in a bedroom alongside the deceased pet’s belongings, became a twisted tool of punishment. Court documents reveal the child endured not just physical harm but psychological manipulation—threats of violence if they dared to speak out.

A Family’s Web of Fear
Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, the mother, now faces charges ranging from aggravated assault to witness tampering. Her mother, Sonia, is accused of tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation. The case paints a picture of a household where secrecy and intimidation ruled. “The child was trapped in a nightmare,” said a source close to the case, “with no escape from the collar’s shocks or the adults’ threats.”

New Jersey’s Alarming Trend
This isn’t the first time the Garden State has seen animal training tools weaponized against children. In 2022, three women in Stratford Township were charged with using a shock collar on a 13-year-old girl, who endured years of starvation and neglect before fleeing. Both cases share a disturbing thread: the exploitation of devices meant for animals to dominate vulnerable kids.

A Community Demands Answers
As the Felicianos await trial, neighbors and advocates are grappling with how such abuse went undetected. “This is a wake-up call,” said a local child welfare advocate. “We need to ask: What signs were missed? How can we better protect kids trapped in silent suffering?” The child has been placed in protective care, but the case has ignited calls for stricter oversight and public education campaigns to spot abuse.

The Collar’s Hidden Message
The shock collar’s placement in the dog’s bedroom holds a haunting symbolism. It wasn’t just a tool of punishment—it was a reminder of the child’s dehumanization. “They treated the child like an animal,” said a law enforcement official. “But the law won’t let them hide behind that cruelty.”

Justice and Healing Ahead
Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano’s jail cell and Sonia Feliciano’s pending court date mark the beginning of accountability. Yet the real work lies in healing the child and ensuring no family repeats this horror. As one prosecutor noted, “This case isn’t just about punishment—it’s about rewriting the story for a child who deserves safety, love, and a future free from fear.”