Farmer charged with killing neighbour’s dog

A St Ann farmer has been arrested following a February incident in which he allegedly entered private property and butchered a family’s dog with a machete.

The incident reportedly left two children who witnessed the attack terrified and screaming in fear and disbelief. A police officer close to the investigation confirmed that a man had been arrested, but said a senior cop had responsibility for giving further details. When THE STAR spoke with one of the dog’s owners, she explained that the man entered the yard, headed straight to where their mongrel dog, named Rocky, was chained, and chopped him to death.

She said the farmer had accused Rocky of killing his goat, a claim she flatly rejected as she insisted that Rocky was always kept tied. The owner, who has been calling for justice for Rocky and stronger laws to protect animals in Jamaica, said she was relieved that an arrest had finally been made.

“I am definitely happy that an arrest has finally been made, because there must be accountability. It took longer than expected, which shows that animal cruelty is still not treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves in Jamaica. However, knowing that an arrest has been made is a step in the right direction,” the person said.

The owner told THE STAR that she remained determined to get justice for Rocky, whom she described as more than just a pet but a member of the family.

“Someone came onto our property and killed a family member. If I had not fought for justice as strongly as I did, I would have felt as though I had failed Rocky. I loved him deeply, and so did the rest of our family,” she said, adding that the family continues to grieve for the pet.

“We have not got another dog because we are afraid that the same thing could happen again. We miss Rocky, and it is still difficult to look at his pictures. Our home is so empty without him.”

Although only two of the four children witnessed the attack, she said all of them have been left heartbroken.

“Recently, my five-year-old nephew saw another dog and suddenly began talking about Rocky and how he was killed he said, ‘Someone killed my dog.’ I could see that he was searching for answers and trying to understand something no child should ever have to process.”

Still, the most heartbreaking thing for the family is that Rocky could not be given a proper burial as the alleged attacker removed the animal from the property.

“We were denied the opportunity to lay him to rest and say goodbye properly,” she said.