Child abuse isn’t something people like to think about. Unfortunately, emotional and physical harm at the hands of caregivers happens every day. Recently, a mom was arrested after allegedly forcing her child to wear an electric dog shock collar.
In March, Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, 30, of Cape May, New Jersey, was arrested on child abuse charges. Her mother, Sonia Feliciano, 59, was also taken into police custody. The details surrounding the case are deeply disturbing. Let’s take a closer look at the allegations and charges.
The child arrived at school with ‘visible marks.’
On March 17, 2025, the unnamed child arrived at school with “visible marks on their body,” according to a media release from the Cape May County prosecutor’s office. The Special Victims Unit, in collaboration with the Cape May City Police Department, launched a joint investigation after receiving a report. What officers discovered was incredibly concerning.
The mom was arrested after allegedly forcing her child to wear a dog shock collar.
As a result of the investigation, both Cruz-Feliciano and Feliciano were arrested. Investigators concluded the child’s injuries were from an electric dog shock collar. Allegedly, Cruz-Feliciano also “threatened the victims with more violence if they disclosed the ongoing abuse.”
They reportedly had to wear the collar ‘at all times’ when home.
According to the prosecutor’s office news release, the child was forced to wear the shock collar “at all times in the home,” WPVI reported. The victim told police that the collar “was kept in a bedroom” with other dog items. Furthermore, it was “charged regularly” after the family’s dog died.
Cruz-Feliciano has been charged with child abuse.
Per the Daily Voice, Cruz-Feliciano faces “two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, one count of first-degree witness tampering with threat of force, and one count of third-degree hindering.” She was being held at Cape May County Correctional Center.
Additionally, the grandmother was charged.
Feliciano faces one fourth-degree hindering and fourth-degree tampering with evidence charges but was released on a summons, the Daily Voice reported.
“This case highlights the ongoing dedication of our law enforcement agencies to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland shared in the media release. “We take all allegations of child abuse with the utmost seriousness, and we will continue to ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts are held fully accountable under the law.”
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
