A City of Tonawanda veterinarian is facing felony charges after trying to conceal the identity of a Niagara County resident’s missing Yorkshire terrier.
Kimberly A. Parkhill-Brown, 46, of City of Tonawanda, was arraigned Tuesday before Tonawanda City Court Judge Mark Saltarelli on two counts of first-degree falsifying business records (Class E felonies), three counts of second-degree falsifying business records (Class A misdemeanors) and one count of companion animal stealing (unclassified misdemeanor under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law).
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane said on July 17, 2024, the victim’s Yorkshire terrier, “Benji,” went missing from her residence in Niagara County. Later the same day, the victim received a phone call from a veterinarian’s office in the City of Tonawanda notifying her that “Benji” had been found by another individual who brought the dog into the office to be scanned for a microchip.
The victim then received a second call, notifying her that “Benji” was no longer at the office after being discharged to the individuals who brought him in.
Parkhill-Brown, while working as a veterinarian, is accused of knowingly making false entries into the office’s business records on July 17, 2024, changing a patient log with the intent to defraud by intentionally changing the reason for the visit from “dog found in the woods” to “itchy skin.” She also altered the sex of the dog in the patient log from “male” to “female spayed.”
Additionally, on Aug. 8, 2024, Parkhill-Brown, while working as a veterinarian, falsified business records with the intent to defraud or aid in the concealment of a crime by changing the patient log entry by altering the name of the dog. She also unlawfully removed the dog’s microchip, registered to the dog’s lawful owner, and replaced it with another microchip. She later changed the name of the dog again in the patient log on Aug. 12, 2024, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
The dog was later returned to the victim.
Parkhill-Brown is scheduled to return on Oct. 28 for a pre-trial conference. She was released on her own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail.
If convicted of the highest charge, Parkhill-Brown faces up to four years in prison.
Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane commended Detective Brett Rogers of the City of Tonawanda Police Department for his work in this investigation as well as Chief Investigator Lindsey Wood of the SPCA Serving Erie County and Investigator Jonathan Bondi of the Niagara County SPCA.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Gary M. Ertel of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.