FLORIDA — A 61-year-old Hudson man has been charged with felony animal cruelty after deputies say he killed and ate two of his pet peacocks, then left his neighbor a letter describing what he had done.
According to an affidavit from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Craig Vogt was in a dispute with his neighbor, who he claimed was feeding his peacocks. The neighbor contacted authorities after finding a letter in her mailbox in which Vogt admitted to killing and eating two of the birds and threatened to continue doing so if she did not stop feeding them.
Deputies said Vogt confirmed the account when questioned, telling an officer that he slit the birds’ throats and cooked one in a frying pan. While being taken to jail, he reportedly said he planned to kill all of his remaining peacocks upon release to prevent anyone else from taking custody of them.
Vogt was arrested on Sept. 23 and charged with aggravated animal cruelty resulting in excessive pain or death.
While peacocks are considered invasive and not protected as a species in Florida, state law protects all animals under its anti-cruelty statute. The case remains under investigation.
