FORT COLLINS, Colo.—A Loveland dog trainer who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty against his own dog will undergo mental-health treatment after serving a short jail sentence.
The Denver Post reports ( ) that 30-year-old Ryan Matthews pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for beating his female Belgian malinois.
Matthews was owner and lead dog trainer of Off Leash Dog Training, where an employee reported him to police in July. Surveillance video showed Matthews putting his dog’s muzzled head through wallboard, body-slamming her by the neck and punching her in the face.
Under the terms of Matthews’ sentence handed down Tuesday, Matthews will spend 30 days in jail and can’t have contact with dogs for two years. His two dogs have been seized and adopted by other owners.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
