Fort Bragg Soldier Stands Trial For Drowning 8-month-old Puppy

Soldier accused of drowning puppy to hire lawyer, return to court Feb. 12
Fayetteville Observer
By Paul Woolverton
Staff writer
Jan 24, 2015.

Staff photo by Babette Augustin

As two animal protection advocates watched, a Fort Bragg soldier accused of felony cruelty to animals for the drowning of an 8-month-old puppy in Fayetteville made his first court appearance Friday.

A first appearance is where a defendant is formally told the crime he is accused of and the maximum potential punishment. He also is asked whether he plans to hire a lawyer, seek a court-appointed lawyer or represent himself as the case proceeds.

The soldier, Spc. John Garrett Burrow, 22, was arrested this week by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office along with his wife, Kelsey Caroline Burrow, 20. Kelsey Burrow is charged with misdemeanor accessory after the fact.

The drowning of the dog, named Riley, has drawn outrage from many.

John Burrow is accused of tying the puppy's feet to its nose with a military parachute cord and throwing it into McFadyen Lake, about a quarter-mile from the couple's west Fayetteville home. The dog's body was found Jan. 2.
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