A group of seven Valley women is asking prosecutors to investigate an animal cruelty case in which a woman wrote in a diary that she killed multiple dogs.
MESA, Ariz. — On the doorstep of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, seven Valley women called on Rachel Mitchell, the office’s elected leader, to take on animal cruelty cases in Mesa.
Even though Mesa police have collected diaries that outline in graphic detail the abuse of multiple dogs, confessions to police, and the discovery of multiple dead dog bodies, prosecutors are unable to prove their case. He said there was “insufficient evidence” for this.
Brooke Scalero, 42, was arrested Nov. 18 after police say she was involved in the deaths of at least three dogs in 2024.
Police said Scalero’s former roommate owned a dog named Gus, who died while in Scalero’s care. After the suspect left the roommate’s residence, the roommate discovered a diary containing an entry regarding Gus’ death.
This diary also contained other entries detailing the torture and death of two other dogs named Pepe and Griffin. The magazine’s author wrote that he strangled the dog and left him in a hot car for hours.
“I starve him, dehydrate him, poison him, leave him strapped to the steering column, immobile for 10 hours a day, no food, no water, no toilet, no sunlight. If he… If he ever decides to move out, I’m going to hit him over and over again with a metal water bottle,” Scalero allegedly wrote in his diary.
Scalero allegedly told Mesa police the diary belonged to him and that the entries were written by her. The suspect also admitted to overheating Pepe and Griffin in the car and disposing of them near a dumpster or behind some bushes, according to police records.
When Mesa police interviewed Scalero, she claimed that her words in the diary were “creative writing.”
“She admitted it. They found three bodies and it’s in her diary. That’s not creative writing,” said foster parent Samantha DiGiandonico. “The message this animal is sending is that it’s okay. These animals that we look at as family members are disposable.”
Pepe’s trainer, Allie Zakovic of Paws Fur a Purpose, said Pepe was stunned when he received the letter from Deputy County Attorney Thomas Reinhart. The letter informed her that the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office would not move forward with felony charges in Mr. Scalero’s case.
“After careful consideration of all the information, the examining attorney concludes that the crime is a felony because there is no reasonable possibility that it will be convicted of a felony or that it could be prosecuted as a misdemeanor in municipal court. It was determined that this was not appropriate.
A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said in a statement to 12News:
“The case was dismissed because there was insufficient evidence other than the defendant’s own statements, so there was no possibility of conviction.”
“We have the supporting evidence to overcome it. What more do they need? What message are we sending to the public that this is OK?” Zakovic asked. “What kind of community would we be if these people were allowed to walk the streets with impunity? It’s disgusting.”
The letter said the prosecutor’s decision will be finalized on Jan. 24 “unless additional significant information is delivered to the Mesa Police Department.”
Lovers of the animals allegedly killed at Scalero’s hands are calling for a reassessment of the evidence.
“Take it to court. There’s enough evidence,” DiGiandonico said.
