Man Sentenced To 90 Days For Trying To Behead Dog

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities man was sentenced to 90 days in jail for trying to cut a dog's head off with a machete last year.

In December, 38-year-old George Nichols pleaded guilty to charges that alleged he attacked an 11-pound miniature pinscher last June, which he co-owned with his ex-fiancee. The dog survived the initial attack, but was later euthanized because of the extensive injuries the dog suffered.

Among his injuries were skull and jawbone fractures, and a cerebral hemorrhage.

When he was arrested, Nichols told police that Jack was his property and he could do whatever he wanted with the dog.

Nichols, who has a prior felony drug conviction and a conviction for drunk driving, was charged with one felony count of animal torture and one of animal cruelty.

Fewer than 50 felony animal cases have been successfully prosecuted in Minnesota in the last 12 years, but prosecutors clearly felt the facts in this case rose to that level.

Nichols was also placed on two years' probation. Among the stipulations of that probation are that he pay $2,600 in restitution, undergo mental health evaluations, use no controlled substances and submit to random testing.