EXETER, N.H. — A New Hampshire man is charged with animal cruelty after allegedly pepper spraying a dog that belonged to another person.
Kota, a 2-year-old husky mix, was temporarily blinded. Her owner told Boston 25 News she can’t believe the attack ever happened, because Kota never even left the yard.
“He was spraying her and he kept spraying her, I was yelling what are you spraying at my dog and he didn’t stop,” Molly St. Angelo said.
According to St. Angelo, Kota never showed any signs of aggression, and while she wasn’t wearing her collar, she simply went to the edge of the property to sniff a dog the suspect was walking with.
“No barking, the other dog wasn’t barking. She didn’t even leave the yard,” St. Angelo said.
Police tell Boston 25 News that Lawrence Cluley, who lives nine miles away in Seabrook, is responsible for the attack. No one answered the door at a listed address for Cluley, and police haven’t said why he was in the neighborhood where St. Angelo lives.
St. Angelo said she just doesn’t understand how anyone could use a full bottle of pepper spray on a dog, and her neighbors agree.
“I just felt so bad for her. I don’t think anybody has the right to treat an animal that way,” David Nash said.
Police say Cluley used a full 4 oz. can of pepper spray on Kota. For comparison, police in Exeter carry 1.8 oz. cans and are trained to use 103 second bursts on people.
Curley was released on bail and is due back in court next month.