Pug Found Dead On Pavement After Being Thrown Off 7-Story Balcony At Clearwater Condo

CLEARWATER, FL — A Clearwater woman was arrested and remains in Pinellas County Jail after Clearwater police say she threw a 3-year-old pug off her the balcony of her seventh-floor condominium, killing it.

Police were called to the Regatta Beach Club condominiums at 880 Mandalay Ave. shortly before noon on Sunday after receiving a call from Eric Adeson.

Adeson told police that he had been dating 46-year-old Shelley Vaughn for several months. On Sunday, he said they had argued in his condominium. During the fight, he said Vaughn threw his 3-year-old pug, Bucky, off his seventh-floor balcony. The dog died when it hit the pavement below.

He said Vaughn also tossed his cell phone and keys off the balcony, and then scratched and struck him.

Efforts to find Vaughn, who lives in the same condominium complex, were unsuccessful on Sunday. Police caught up with her Monday afternoon and arrested and charged her with aggravated animal cruelty, criminal mischief and domestic violence.

Neighbors angry at the woman's blatant display of cruelty said any sentence Vaughn might receive from the courts would be too light.

In a series of angry Facebook and Twitter posts, residents suggested Vaughn be thrown off the seventh-floor balcony, as well.

"She needs to be thrown off of a balcony," tweeted Robyn Canady. "The pug had nothing to do with the argument. This is awful."

There were other suggestions for a fitting punishment for Vaughn.

The suggestions for punishment became progressively harsher and more creative after police posted the incident on its Facebook page, forcing the police department to turn off all comments to the post.

Aggravated animal cruelty is defined as causing a cruel death or causing “excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering” to an animal. It's a third-degree felony in Florida, punishable by a prison sentence of up to five years and a maximum fine of $10,000.