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Hudson, FL - A Hudson man has been arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty after allegedly killing and eating two of his pet peacocks and sending a letter to his neighbor describing the act.
The incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the neighbor and the man over feeding the birds.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Craig Vogt, 61, was involved in a disagreement with his neighbor, who regularly fed his free-roaming peacocks.
The neighbor contacted authorities after discovering a letter in her mailbox from Vogt, in which he admitted to killing the birds by slitting their throats and cooking them in a frying pan.
The letter also allegedly threatened that he would continue killing the peacocks if she persisted in feeding them.
Deputies reported that Vogt confirmed the details to officers when they responded.
He allegedly stated that he killed the birds out of spite and intended to consume them.
While being transported to jail, Vogt reportedly told officers that upon his release, he planned to kill all remaining peacocks to prevent anyone from taking custody of them.
Vogt was arrested on September 23 and charged with aggravated animal cruelty resulting in excessive pain or death.
He was held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center on a $25,000 bond.
While peacocks are considered an invasive species in Florida and not protected, all animals in the state are covered under anti-cruelty laws that prohibit causing unnecessary suffering or death.
This case illustrates the legal consequences for violating Florida’s animal cruelty statutes, even when the animals involved are not a protected species.