Crime & Safety
PETA Calls For Jail Time, Counseling for Accused Dog Killer
PETA is asking that Brian Perry, accused of beating a Rottweiler to death, be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling (and anger-management classes) at his own expense if he is convicted of a crime.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization is calling for “vigorous prosecution” of Brian Perry, the New Port Richey man accused of beating a 4-year-old Rottweiler named Gipper to death with his fists.
Perry, who was arrested May 27, is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment Monday, July 15, on a third-degree felony charge of cruelty to animals.
"If these allegations prove true, then Gipper's last moments—the shock, betrayal, and terror that he must have felt when the very person he relied on to protect him from harm started mercilessly beating him—were beyond painful," PETA Director Martin Mersereau said in a press release. "PETA is calling on Pasco County to ensure that this violent crime does not go unpunished."
PETA sent a letter on July 11 to Bernie McCabe, state attorney for the Pasco/Pinellas Court system, asking for Perry's "vigorous prosecution," according to the release. The letter asks for Perry to be sentenced to jail time and psychological evaluation and counseling if he is convicted on the charge. The organization is also asking that Perry be prohibited from owning animals.
New Port Richey police officers said in May that Perry refused to tell them where he hid Gipper’s body and charged Perry with obstruction of justice, but the court decided in June to drop that charge.
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