A Massachusetts man who stabbed a police dog that was chasing him down the street has been sentenced to three years in prison.
The Republican newspaper reports that Joseph Albelo, of Holyoke, was also sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation after pleading guilty to charges including animal cruelty and mistreating or interfering with a police dog.
The Holyoke Police Department dog, Jori, chased the 26-year-old Albelo down a city street in July 2015 during a robbery investigation.
Prosecutors say after Jori bit Albelo on the leg, the defendant swung a knife at the dog several times causing a stab wound 1.5 centimeters wide and three to four centimeters deep between the animal's shoulder blades.
Jori needed seven stitches and was out of work for five months.
