OCALA, Fla. (AP) – A man accused of fatally beating a dog because he thought it was gay was convicted of animal cruelty.
George Stephens Finley, 58, could get up to a year in jail.
Witnesses testified that Finley was upset that his wife's neutered male poodle-Yorkshire terrier repeatedly tried to engage in sexual activity with another family dog, a male Jack Russell terrier.
"He felt that the dog was a queer-type dog and it made him angry,'' said Sheriff's Capt. Mike McQuaig.
Prosecutors said Finley hit the dog in the head with a plastic vacuum cleaner wand and hurled it against a tree. The dog lapsed into a coma and was put to death.
Finley maintained he struck the dog accidentally.
A jury found him guilty Tuesday.