Burton, Mich. (WNEM) – A pet sitter charged with gross cruelty to a dog has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.
On April 19, Michael Pickard was sentenced to six months of probation, 40 hours of community service, and ordered to participate in an outpatient program.
Pickard was investigated last year after a video surfaced online showing him roughing a dog at Family Pet Grooming in Burton.
After the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into Pickard, Sheriff Chris Swanson said the dog in the video was not injured.
Pickard released a Facebook post when the video emerged admitting it was him in the video saying he received 12 stitches from the dog. He went on to say, “The owners sat in the car and told me to finish. Two minutes later I took the dog home. They won’t let me muzzle it. I was very sad. I am often known for dogs that love to come see me. I shouldn’t even let it go that far. I made a mistake and apologize.”
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