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A dog owner has been charged with animal cruelty after subjecting his pet beagle to what he called 'gentle sexual intercourse', police said.

Jonnie Boggess, from Miami, Florida, was apprehended by police after an animal rights group tipped officers off that the 47-year-old had been having sex with his dog, Piglet.

According to authorities, Boggess defended the illegal act, arguing it was 'okay' because ‘Piglet was more than 40lbs and had been spayed’, adding that they had had ‘gentle sexual intercourse.’

Kanawha County State Trooper, N. M. Manolakos, told the Charleston Daily Mail: "Boggess stated that when he had finished having intercourse, he held Piglet, petted her, and told her he loved her."

Boggess later said that he wished he had not had sex with Piglet, and that was drunk, reports police.

However one neighbour did not believe him, telling WOWKTV: "He has done this with animals before, and it’s no shock."

Sgt Larry O'Brien said the dog had been removed from his home and Boggess is awaiting sentencing.