Sperry man who left his dogs out overnight charged with felony animal cruelty after three puppies froze to death
(Booking photo, Troy Pierce; Image credit: Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office)
On February 20, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) announced the arrest of a Sperry man after he left a family of dogs outside in his yard overnight. Three of the dogs, puppies who were still nursing, froze to death. Troy Pierce, the 74-year-old homeowner, has been charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty.
A concerned neighbor called the Sheriff’s Office after seeing multiple dogs left outside in the cold overnight. One dog was nursing six puppies, three of which had succumbed to the cold.
Pierce claimed that he checked on the dogs the previous day, saw that three puppies had died, but still continued to leave all the dogs outside. On the scene at Pierce’s residence, Deputies observed inadequate shelter for the dogs and found their food and water were frozen solid.
The remaining surviving dogs were rescued by Deputies and taken to a local shelter.
The Sherrif’s Office reminded their citizens that “Failing to protect your animals from the cold is a crime! It’s best to bring your pets indoors. Very young pets, such as puppies, are especially vulnerable to the cold.”
According to the National Weather Service, on the night of February 19, 2025, Sperry, Oklahoma experienced mostly clear skies with overnight temperatures dropping to around 20°F. According to Lawyers.com, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, felony animal cruelty is a serious offense. If convicted, the penalties can include:
- Imprisonment: Up to 5 years in the state penitentiary.
- Fines: Up to $5,000.
These penalties apply to acts such as intentionally or maliciously torturing, mutilating, killing, or cruelly beating an animal, as well as depriving an animal of necessary food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.
The mother of the puppies, the three surviving puppies and two additional dogs were taken to a local shelter for proper care. Pierce’s bond was set at $6,000 according to Fox 23 News.
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(Source: TCSO)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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