David Etzel convicted of animal cruelty after mother says he drunkenly teased her dog, bit it after it bit him, and choked it to the point where its eye popped out

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A Florida man who was convicted of biting a small dog on the face and choking it so hard its eye popped out has been sentenced to a year in prison.

The Palm Beach Post reports that 37-year-old David Etzel was sentenced on Friday after being found guilty of felony animal cruelty a few days earlier.

Etzel’s mother told deputies in April that her 6ft 8in, 375lbs son was drunk when he started teasing her shih tzu named Cujo, prompting the dog to bite him. She said Etzel then bit the dog back.

A judge also ordered anger management and alcohol treatment.

Veterinarians were able to put Cujo’s eye back in, but officials said the animal was permanently blind in that eye. A veterinarian told deputies the injuries were comparable to being hit by a vehicle or attacked by another dog.