Dog Thrown From Clearwater Condo Balcony To Be Remembered Through Humane Society Fund

CLEARWATER, FL — Residents of the Regatta Beach Club condominium on Clearwater Beach are making plans for a memorial to spread the cremated remains of a little pug dog that died Sunday after being thrown from the seventh-floor balcony of the high-rise.

Bucky was a well-known fixture at the 280-unit condominium where he lived with his owner, Eric Adeson, and companion Sandy, a puggle (pug and beagle mix). "The entire building is horrified," Adeson said of the dog's death.

Clearwater police said Adeson's on-again, off-again girlfriend for the past seven months, Shelley Nicole Vaughn, 46, threw the dog to its death. Vaughn is charged with aggravated animal cruelty, criminal mischief and domestic violence.

Vaughn was arraigned Tuesday morning. During the hearing, the judge increased her $5,000 bail, and she was released from jail on a $21,150 bond.

Patch called Vaughn at her fifth-floor condominium but received no response; her voicemail is full.

According to affidavits from the Clearwater police, at 11:55 a.m. Sunday, Vaughn was at Adeson's condominium, where the couple argued over her use of alcohol.

Police affidavits said that during the fight, Vaughn threw Adeson's cell phone off the balcony of his condominium.

Then, before he could react, she picked up his little dog and, smiling at Adeson, tossed Bucky off the balcony as well, he said.

Bucky fell to the pavement below, according to the police affidavit. The average distance from the seventh flood to the ground of a typical high-rise is 65 feet, according to ResearchGate.

Police said Vaughn also threw Adeson's keys off the balcony. When he tried to remove her from his condominium, police said, she tried to hit him and scratched his arm.

Police said residents of the condominium were at the main entrance to the tower at 880 Mandalay Ave. when the little dog landed on the street next to the main entrance. Residents called police, who arrived to find the dog dead in a pool of blood.

Related story: Pug Thrown Off 7-Story Balcony To His Death In Clearwater

"In a million years, I could never have anticipated she'd do such a thing," Adeson said during a news conference with his attorney, Katherine Neal. "When she (Vaughn) was sober, she was a sweet, lovely person."

Police said Vaughn didn't answer her door Sunday, and they were unable to locate her. Officers finally found and arrested her Monday afternoon; the most serious charge she faces is aggravated animal cruelty.

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.

Adeson said he's heartbroken.

He said he adopted the little pug when his 13-year-old puggle, Sandy, was diagnosed with cancer.

"I thought he (Bucky) could keep Sandy company and give her a reason to go on," Adeson said, unable to hold back his tears. "Bucky was so sweet. He slept curled up against me every night."

Adeson and his attorney have taken out a restraining order against Vaughn and filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks money from Vaughn for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

"We have to send a message to our community that this is not acceptable," Neal said. "It's been a crazy couple of years for everyone, but there is a limit. A lot of people are struggling, but that's not an excuse to hurt another person or animal."

"I don't care about the money," Adeson said. "I'm hoping to bring this to light to initiate an outcry and make her pay for what she's done."

Adeson has lived at the Regatta Beach Club for 12 years and said he knows most of the residents, many of whom are pets owners.

"Everyone is very upset," he said.

In the meantime, Neal's office, Carey Leisure & Neal in Clearwater, has been overwhelmed by phone calls from people wanting to help. As a result, the attorney's office is setting up a fund in Bucky's memory with the Humane Society Pinellas. Donations can be sent to Bucks for Bucky.

"Eric wants something good to come out of this," Neal said.