Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Terry Tyrone Guider, 48, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by three years of probation, after entering a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of animal cruelty; after warning his neighbors that he would kill their cat if it came on his property again, he put antifreeze in a can of cat food, killing the cat.

The cat’s owners told a Gainesville Police Department officer that Guider approached their Ring cameras on October 1, 2023, when they were out of town and a housesitter was caring for the cat. Guider said, “I will kill your cat if they come on my property again,” and one of the owners responded to Guider in the Ring app and asked him to leave their yard. Guider then left the property.

When the cat’s owners returned the next day, they found their cat dead, and an autopsy showed that the cat had died from suspected ethylene glycol toxicity.

Guider, who owns a barber shop, entered a plea of nolo contendere on June 18 to two counts of animal cruelty; according to the plea document, the maximum sentence is five years for each count, and the minimum mandatory sentence is a $2,500 fine for each count. Judge Denise Ferrero withheld adjudication of guilt and sentenced Guider to 90 days in jail, followed by 36 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $850 in restitution to the owners and $632 to a veterinarian, pay two fines of $2,500 each, and complete 50 hours of community service.