Since Candy was killed in November 2016, animal lovers in our community and throughout the country have spoken out about the case and the need to find justice for Candy.

Here are two letters that were published in the “Opinion” section of The Herald-Tribune in Sarasota following Candy’s death

December 5, 2016 – The Herald-Tribune

Family loses pet to gun violence

I want to extend my condolences to the Jacobson family on the loss of their beloved dog. Rodney Jacobson, the dog’s owner, had been given permission to be on the property with Candy and was preparing for the Venice boat parade.

Zach Deaterly confronted Mr. Jacobson and the dog started barking at him. Deaterly then kicked at the dog. When the dog reappeared, Deaterly pulled out his concealed carry weapon, shot the dog and continued shooting even as the dog ran away.

The dog’s owner was frightened to intervene due to fear of being shot. When people have a weapon on them, it seems too easy in the heat of the moment to start shooting.

When I am walking my dog and she is afraid of someone, she too will start barking. It would be easy for the person, after shooting my dog, to say “I felt threatened so I had to use deadly force.”

I hope this matter will be pursued further. Losing a pet is like losing a member of your family.

Katherine Souza, Venice

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December 10, 2016 – The Herald-Tribune

Barking is no reason to kill

My heart was broken after learning about the cruel and inhuman shooting of Candy, the rescued dog owned by Rod Jacobson.

Candy was a daily visitor to our property as a constant companion to Rod. Every day this amazing dog would come to our new home and my husband and I would play with her as Rod’s crew worked on our home.

We loved Candy. She was an affectionate dog who was devoted to her owners and enjoyed playing with her toys and greeting us each morning.

We’d enter her air-conditioned work trailer and take her for walks on the beach and play with her and enjoy her loving embraces and that smile that was always on her cute face.

Rod reported that the man who killed Candy threw a rock and kicked at Candy when she barked. After that the dog ran away and then, it was reported, she came back and was crouched in fear (not aggression) when she barked at the man.

Who would imagine that anyone would be carrying a weapon, and then use it to kill a defenseless animal?

Barking is not a rationale for killing. And there is absolutely no rationale for continuing to shoot a dog as it runs away screaming in pain.

Action must be taken and our laws must be examined. It appears that anyone could claim feeling “fear” and then feel justified to kill any animal, or for that matter any human.

Joy Miller, Nokomis

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Here is a letter that Rod and Cindy Jacobson received just weeks after Candy’s murder.

December 15, 2016 – The Herald-Tribune

Dear Rod and Cindy,

It is with great regret that I send this note of sympathy on the tragic and cruel demise of your love, Candy.  I am shocked and in disbelief that there were no charges pressed in this case as I am aware of how gentle this creature of God was.  I remember meeting her when Rod brought her with him to meet me in regard to a customer’s request to alter a home on Casey Key. Candy was being fostered at the time and was all love and kisses.  I recall saying to Rod that you are going to have to adopt her seeing how attached she already was.  This was a kind and gentle animal unlike the shameful and ignorant brute that did this to her.

My heart breaks on hearing of such criminal abuse and goes out to you both. It is unimaginable that something like this should happen and how difficult it must be to deal with emotionally.  I’m sure the community is also in shock and I hope something can be done to put this killer in jail.

I’m sure it must be hard to be reminded of this incident in receiving such emails so forgive me for any hurt I may be causing you.  I felt the need to share how distressing I find this and wish there were some way I could help. I’m sure you have a strong community of friends, neighbors and associates that would all like to see justice done.

With my deepest sympathy,

Jayne Irene
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty