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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- A Salt Lake City man convicted of hitting a toy poodle with a baseball bat will spend some time at an animal shelter for punishment.
Joseph Ryan Elmore was sentenced yesterday. The 23-year-old was convicted last July of misdemeanor animal cruelty for breaking the poodle's left front leg. He also pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault for threatening to hit the dog's owner.
A judge sentenced Elmore to serve 80 hours at an animal shelter, pay 45-hundred dollars in veterinary bills, complete an anger management course, and get his high school diploma.
Elmore was accused of clubbing the six-pound dog named Scooter after he reportedly ran into Elmore's driveway. Elmore says the dog attacked him, but the animal's owner said Scooter didn't even bark.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
