A dog trainer accused of animal cruelty has pleaded guilty in court, more than two years after the death of a puppy named Indie. Brooke Pearson, the dog’s owner, is satisfied with this conclusion but disappointment that Alexis Gibson, the trainer, will not serve jail time. “We went to court yesterday and Alexis Gibson plead guilty to the cruelty to animals charge,” said Matt Butts, Pearson’s attorney. “What that’s gonna entail is a fine which will be paid and also a suspended sentence of 180 days.”
Pearson previously recounted the tragic circumstances surrounding Indie’s death, stating, “The dog passed away from sepsis it had no food in its GI tract, it was severely underweight obviously, it had lacerations on its feet from sitting in its own urine and feces.” Despite the lack of jail time, Pearson and her attorney are hopeful that Gibson’s guilty plea will prevent her from working with animals in the future. “It’s unfortunate but that’s why we’re doing this and hoping to raise awareness because we just want the killing to stop,” Pearson said in November 2024.
Butts added, “My clients obviously wanted her to serve some time here. But we’ll take the win. She stood in open court and plead guilty to this charge and that means some accountability has been taken.” The guilty plea will appear on Gibson’s background checks, hindering her ability to work with animals again.
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Attempts to reach Pearson for further comment have been unsuccessful.