A New York man who brutally kicked his girlfriend’s cat, Rogue, causing catastrophic injuries that led to Rogue’s death, has received an appallingly light sentence.

On July 9, 2026, Henrietta Town Justice Robert L. Cook sentenced Harold Larson to just one year in jail, ordered him to pay a $205 civil judgment, and prohibited him from having an animal companion for only one year.

The sentence comes despite the horrific circumstances surrounding Rogue’s death and pleas from more than 14,000 In Defense of Animals supporters urging the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office to pursue the maximum penalties available.

Larson intentionally kicked Rogue with his work boot on Feb. 25. The attack caused catastrophic injuries and life-threatening respiratory failure that required intubation and oxygen support. Rogue ultimately died from the injuries.

Veterinary findings indicated that Rogue’s injuries were highly consistent with repeated blunt-force trauma and were not consistent with an accident. The original complaint detailed collapsed lungs, multiple acute and healing rib fractures, head and cranial trauma, extensive soft tissue damage and swelling, and other severe injuries. The presence of both acute and healing injuries indicated Rogue had endured repeated trauma.

Larson was charged under New York Agriculture & Markets Law § 353-a with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony that applies when someone intentionally causes extreme physical pain or death to an animal in an especially depraved or sadistic manner.

In Defense of Animals and thousands of our supporters called for the maximum incarceration and financial penalties available, a mandatory psychological evaluation and any recommended treatment, and the longest animal-contact restriction allowed by law — ideally a lifetime prohibition on harboring, residing with, or having custody or control of animals.

Under New York law, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The court also had the ability to impose a longer restriction preventing Larson from having contact with animals. Instead, Larson received just one year in jail and only a one-year restriction on having an animal companion. 

The sentence imposed represents only a small portion of the accountability available under New York law and fails to reflect the severity of Rogue’s suffering and death. 

That is nowhere near enough.

The circumstances are especially alarming because Rogue was the animal companion of Larson’s girlfriend. Violence against an intimate partner’s beloved animal can be used to intimidate, terrorize, punish, and exert control over that person.

A sentence must reflect the gravity of deliberately inflicting fatal suffering. A one-year animal restriction means someone convicted of this brutal killing could legally have access to animals again remarkably soon.

Speak Out for Rogue

Although Rogue cannot be brought back, public officials need to hear that fatal animal cruelty must be treated as the serious violent crime it is.

Please respectfully contact Henrietta Town Justice Robert L. Cook and express your concern about the sentence imposed in Rogue’s case, including the one-year restriction on having an animal companion.

Henrietta Town Court — Justice Robert L. Cook
Phone: 585-359-2640
Email: court@henriettany.gov
455 Calkins Road
Rochester, NY 14623

You can also contact Monroe County District Attorney Brian P. Green and urge his office to pursue the strongest possible penalties in aggravated animal cruelty cases, including meaningful incarceration, psychological evaluation and treatment, and long-term restrictions preventing convicted abusers from having access to animals.

Monroe County District Attorney Brian P. Green
Phone: 585-753-4500
Email: districtattorney@monroecounty.gov
47 S. Fitzhugh St.
Rochester, NY 14614

Tell both offices that Rogue’s horrific death deserved consequences that reflect the seriousness of the violence inflicted on him and that New York’s animals need far stronger protection from people convicted of deliberately harming them.

Please remain polite and respectful in all communications.

Rogue deserved justice. Every animal subjected to deliberate violence deserves a justice system willing to recognize the seriousness of that crime and impose consequences that help protect animals and people from further harm.

Please consider making a donation to help fuel our ongoing Justice for Animals investigations and advocacy, and learn more about our work to seek justice for animal victims, hold abusers accountable, and protect animals and communities nationwide.