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Dunedin couple accused of killing relative's dog

 
Published Jan. 30, 2015

TARPON SPRINGS — A man and his girlfriend were arrested Wednesday on charges that they broke into his parents' home and killed the family dog, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

Alan and Laura Adams called the Sheriff's Office on Monday to report that their dog, Daisy, was dead and their iPad was missing from their house at 1593 Mary Lane.

During interviews with detectives, their son, Daniel Adams, and his girlfriend, Lauren Curran, admitted to burglarizing the house and killing Daisy, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, the Sheriff's Office said.

They told investigators they drove to the house with their child, entered through an unlocked sliding glass door, and Curran injected the dog with an unknown chemical, according to arrest affidavits.

Adams, 34, and Curran, 28, also stole the iPad to make it appear like a burglary.

Curran said she killed the dog because it "displayed aggressive behavior" in the past and she was worried about the safety of her service dog and the children, arrest records state.

Deputies indicated in the affidavits that mental health issues may be a factor in the dog's slaying. Adams' parents could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Adams and Curran of Dunedin face charges of animal cruelty, burglary, and child abuse.

They remained at the Pinellas County Jail Thursday.

Contact Laura C. Morel at lmorel@tampabay.com or (727)445-4157. Follow @lauracmorel.