Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Animal Cruelty After Shooting Dog That Bit Fiancée

A Florida man who shot his dog in the face following an alleged dog bite incident has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and 42 months of probation. The incident took place in April 2022, prompting neighbors to call 911 after hearing gunshots.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered the man, Jamier Lee-Bright, cleaning blood from his patio while his dog, named Rocky, was found alive with two gunshot wounds. Lee-Bright admitted to shooting the dog in the head, claiming it had bitten his fiancée. However, prosecutors stated that the fiancée did not sustain any injuries.

Rocky underwent successful surgery and made a full recovery. He was later adopted by Hayden Ore, an employee of the sheriff’s office involved in Lee-Bright’s arrest.

Lee-Bright pleaded guilty to charges of cruelty to animals and tampering with physical evidence. As part of his sentence, he will be placed on an animal abuse registry, prohibited from having contact with any animals, and required to undergo a mental health evaluation. He is also obligated to surrender his firearm to the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Rick Staly expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that justice has been served and emphasizing that lashing out at a pet is never an appropriate response.