MESA, AZ — A woman has been arrested by Mesa police in connection to the death of three dogs after the discovery of her journal depicting the alleged torture of several animals.
On November 19, Mesa police announced the arrest of 42-year-old Brook Scalero.
Police officials say that on November 4, a journal was turned over to Mesa PD that allegedly belonged to Scalero. The journal reportedly described the abuse and deaths of at least 10 dogs under Scalero's care.
Earlier, on June 7, "Paws Fur the Cause" reported that in May, Scalero agreed to pay for a 3-year-old Maltese mix dog named "Pepe." The organization allowed Scalero to leave with the dog with the understanding she would pay for him later that night, but she never did.
Later, on October 5, police officers responded to the VCA Animal Hospital for reports of a dead dog who matched the description of Pepe. Investigators say a microchip confirmed the dog was not Pepe, but was Griffin, another dog registered to Scalero. Police say Griffin had injuries consistent with animal abuse.
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During an investigation, police learned that between November 2023 and October 2024, Scalero lived with a roommate, who had a dog named Gus, who died under Scalero's watch. When Scalero left the residence, police say her roommate found her journal, documenting the death of Gus.
ABC15 spoke to her former roommate, Judy Seraphine, who said that Scalero would take Gus to work.
“She was always so excited to take him to work. She made me feel like, 'Oh, he's like, got like, a little friend during the day,'" Seraphine said.
Three months after moving in with Seraphine, Scalero took Gus out and never brought him back. Seraphine told ABC15 that Scalero later revealed that Gus had died with no explanation.
“I literally fell to my knees in front of the bedroom," Seraphine said. “I truly wanted to think like maybe he was hit by a car and she didn't have the nerve to tell me, or something like that.”
“Not only is it horrible for what he went through, but there's going to be a level of guilt for the rest of my life," Seraphine said.
Scalero was arrested on November 14 for unrelated crimes. During a police interview, she reportedly acknowledged ownership of the journal but claimed the stories were part of her "creative writings." Scalero did admit to taking Pepe without paying for him.
The following day, on November 15, a person called the police after they found a dead dog behind a bush. The microchip confirmed the dog was Pepe, according to Mesa PD.
Scalero was interviewed again on November 18 and admitted to her involvement in the torture and deaths of Pepe, Griffin, and Gus, police say.
According to court paperwork, Scalero also journaled about abusing a 14-month-old child. Police are investigating that claim, but say no victim has been located as of this time.
She has been booked into jail on several charges, including cruelty to animals and theft.
ABC15 spoke with people who work at Adopt a Dog Rescue.
“She has inquired for dogs with pretty much every rescue that has anything small, white and fluffy,” Taren Sario, Adopt A Dog Rescue Director, said.
Sario says one of those dogs was Norman. She says Scalero came to Adopt A Dog Rescue in March to do a one-to-two-day foster trial. Then Sario couldn’t reach Scalero, or get the dog back.
“Guilt, panic. I just knew he wasn't okay,” Sario said, describing how she was feeling. “I just felt sick.”
Norman was eventually found abandoned in a park, and went on to get adopted.
“He is very loved. He is a happy ending,” Sario said. “But what he had to go through to get to that, it was just something I can't even think about.”
Ally Zacovic, with PAWS Fur The Cause Rescue, is looking to honor the young pup who lost his life in May, launching a new foundation called Pepe’s Paws Fur a Purpose. She will personally rehabilitate abused dogs, and the foundation will cover their medical expenses.
“So that he, you know, didn't die in vain,” Zacovic said. “And he died to help save many, many other dogs. Because if he hadn't gotten taken, I would have never looked into her and found everything that I did.”
“I feel terrible for the people who you know, lost their dogs or rescue people who, you know, believed her to be a charming person, because people did," Seraphine said.
