A Hudson Valley man who tied up and fatally shot his housemate’s dog with a shotgun will serve jail time.

In Ulster County Court, 44-year-old Eric Napoli, of Pine Bush was sentenced to two years in prison, the maximum punishment allowable by law in Ulster County

According to evidence from the trial, Napoli tied his housemate’s 6-year-old huskie, Luna, to a tree in his backyard and shot her to death using a shotgun. Officials say he waited until Luna’s owner came home to kill the dog, purposely causing more pain on the owner.

At his sentencing Ulster County Court Judge Donald Williams
Called Napoli’s actions “chilling” and that he “could not imagine how someone could point a shotgun at an innocent creature who just wanted to be loved by human beings.”

William’s added the defendant’s “explanation, tortured logic and rationalization” were “quickly rejected by the jury as fabricated and unbelievable.”

In addition to his jail sentence, Napoli must register with the newly enacted Ulster County Animal Abuse Registry, forfeit any ownership he has with companion animals, pay restitution to the dog owner, and an order of protection was issued on her behalf.

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