CHESAPEAKE, VA -- A man who killed his dog with a sword will spend a year in the city jail.

Image: Chesapeake Police

Robert Allen Young, Jr.

Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr said Robert Allen Young was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Bruce Kushner.

Back in September, neighbors said Young ran a sword up and down his pit bull’s back and then took the dog inside. After about 15 minutes, they say Young carried the dog’s body out and put it in the trash can.

According to Parr, Young received a five-year sentence with four years suspended, conditioned upon indeterminate supervised probation.

Young was charged with felony animal cruelty.

Dale Bartlett, a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States, said, “HSUS is very pleased to see the court has seen fit to put him behind bars for a full year and support the full sentence of 5 years.  Animal cruelty is a serious and violent crime.  We know that people capable of this level sadistic abuse are dangerous to the community at large and we’re pleased to see the court has taken this case so seriously.”