The man who severely abused his dog by hitting her in the mouth with a golf club and burning her eyes with bleach, received his sentence Wednesday.
Back in November, Robert Gonzales was charged with felony animal cruelty. He pleaded no contest to the charges.
Although the prosecution wanted 16 months in prison for Gonzales, the judge sentenced him to eight months in county jail and three years probation.
"If he fails his probation he will then be looking at three years in prison."
Police say Gonzales tethered a dog named Lacey, to a tree at his home in southwest Bakersfield, then hit her in the mouth with a golf club and sprayed bleach in her eyes.
"One of the stipulations by him being placed on probation is that he cannot possess an animal during this probationary period, so obviously i am happy with that," said prosecutor Felicia Nagel.
During an impromptu news conference by the Public Health Department, we got an update on Lacey's condition.
"We're not here with Lacey and that's intentional because she is still very skiddish and very uncomfortable around people and animals and we did not want to subject her to stress," said Matt Constantine, Director, Kern County Public Health.
Lacey's eyes badly burned by the bleach was a large concern. But, thanks to a team of supporters from Animal Control, doctors performing free surgeries on her eyes and a foster family, she's nearly made a full recovery.
"Huge, huge, huge difference. She looks so much better, her eyes are clear, her fur grown back from the burns. I mean it was all gone and she just looks so much better."
The court has also required Gonzales to go through animal abuse specific counseling.
Judi Daunell with the Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelter Foundation, explains. "This is a relatively new concept, but rather than just your run of the mill anger management counseling, regular counseling, this program is specific for animal abusers."
Constantine says they were able to raise more than $13,000 in Lacey's name to not only provide care for her, but to other abused animals as well.
