Calif. man gets jail time for abusing puppy

updated 4:59 a.m. ET April 7, 2007

LOS ANGELES - A man has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges after bringing a 7-month-old Doberman puppy with broken ribs and leg injuries to a shelter and telling the workers there that his hands hurt from hitting her.

Isaak Gowhari, 34, was sentenced Thursday to 45 days in county jail after entering his plea to the misdemeanor counts. The judge also barred Gowhari from owning an animal for three years.

Gowhari’s telephone number was unlisted and he could not immediately be reached for comment.

Authorities said Gowhari came under investigation after he gave Gracie, the puppy, to an animal shelter.

“Gowhari told the animal shelter workers that he was surrendering the dog because his hands hurt from hitting the animal,” said animal control Officer Ernesto Poblano.

Photos seized by investigators showed Gracie’s snout taped shut and her legs bandaged.

“At times, Gowhari did get Gracie medical care for the injuries he inflicted, but he apparently did not follow up on treatments and the injuries became aggravated and did not heal,” Poblano said.

Gracie recovered from her injuries and has since been adopted.

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