SPERRY, Okla. — A Sperry man was arrested Feb. 20 after deputies say he let dogs in his care freeze to death during February's winter storm.
A concerned neighbor called the sheriff's office after seeing an adult female dog left outside, then found two others and three puppies that had froze to death. The neighbor said the dogs are often uncontained and roam the neighborhood.
When the neighbor saw the dogs outside just after 3 a.m., it was four degrees with a windchill of negative nine.
According to the arrest report, when deputies arrived at the home Troy Pierce told them he last checked on the dogs the previous night. He said when he checked on them, he noticed a couple of the puppies had passed away, and he left them outside.
"(Pierce) didn't seem too concerned, considering the fact that three of the puppies had already passed away and he still didn't feel it necessary to bring them (inside)," Tulsa County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Casey Roebuck told 2 News.
There was no proper shelter and the dogs' food and water was frozen solid, according to TCSO.
"He's a really nice guy. He's a godly man," Pierce's neighbor told 2 News. The neighbor went by the name Matthew but didn't want his face shown. "He always fed his dogs and would take care of them."
Tulsa County Animal Control took the remaining dogs to Tulsa Animal Services.
Pierce was arrested for three felony counts of animal cruelty but was later released on a $2,000 bond. He now awaits charges from Tulsa County District Attorney's Office.
Pierce's neighbor told 2 News the 74-year-old did not intend to commit a crime.
"I know he has some health problems," Matthew said. "He's on crutches and moves around very slowly. But I don't think he intentionally did that."
Roebuck said the incident is a grave lesson why pets should be prioritized during cold weather events.
"Let me be clear: If you want to be a pet owner you have to take on the responsibility that comes with that," the spokesperson said. "And if you're not willing to adequately provide food and shelter and water for your animals, then you shouldn't be a pet owner."
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