Justice Served: Ventura County Man Sentenced for Puppy’s Death In a case that shocked and saddened the community, a Ventura County man has been sentenced to jail for his involvement in the death of a puppy he stole from an animal shelter. Miles Matthew Berry, 34, of Newbury Park, was identified as the suspect responsible for the heart-wrenching incident. The events unfolded on the morning of June 9, 2022, when Berry broke into Paw Works, an animal rescue shelter located in Camarillo. Inside the shelter, he forcibly took a German Shepherd puppy named Pretty Girl. Surveillance footage captured the disturbing sight of Berry hitting the puppy as she resisted being taken from her kennel. A few hours later, the gravely injured puppy was discovered on the 101 Freeway, desperately running between cars. Sadly, due to the severity of her injuries, she had to be euthanized. The news of this tragic incident left a hole in the hearts of many at Paw Works and throughout the surrounding community. Berry’s actions did not end there. On September 4, 2022, he returned to the shelter outside of business hours. Security cameras caught him tampering with the surveillance system, even turning it away at one point. An alarm went off, prompting Berry to flee the scene. Thankfully, no animals were taken during this intrusion. Following investigation and identification, Berry was arrested on September 28, 2022. On November 9, he pled guilty to charges of cruelty to an animal and felony commercial burglary over $950. He also admitted to the special allegation that the crime involved great violence. On December 14, Berry received his sentence of 180 days in Ventura County Jail and 24 months of formal probation. As part of his probation terms, he is not allowed to own any animals. Additionally, a restitution hearing is set for January 16, 2024, at the Ventura County Superior Court. Ventura County Deputy District Attorney Nadia Aboujawdah expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The tragic loss of Pretty Girl has left a hole in the hearts of many at Paw Works and within the surrounding community. I am pleased to see the defendant is being held accountable for his actions, and hopeful that this conviction brings some peace and closure to those who loved and cared so deeply for Pretty Girl. We will strive to continue protecting our local businesses, while sending the message that the mistreatment of innocent animals in this community will not be tolerated.” This case serves as a reminder of the importance of animal welfare and the need to hold individuals accountable for their actions. The bond between humans and animals is one built on trust and compassion, and incidents like these remind us of the responsibility we have to protect and care for our furry friends. The sentencing of Miles Matthew Berry brings some measure of justice for Pretty Girl and provides closure for those affected by her tragic loss. Let us hope that this serves as a strong message to others that mistreatment of innocent animals will not be tolerated in our community.