SHALIMAR — Brent Matthew Lukaszewski will serve time in state prison for his “egregious” treatment of his dog, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

Okaloosa County Circuit Judge John Brown on Tuesday sentenced Lukaszewski to 14 months behind bars. He had been convicted of cruelty to animals Jan. 3. A witness testified at trial that he looked over a fence to see a dog dangling from a rope and Lukaszewski striking the animal with a 2x4 board.

“The witness confronted Lukaszewski, who replied that it was his dog "Gurty" and he could do what he wanted with it,” according to a news release from the state attorney’s office.

After prison, Lukaszewski will serve three years’ probation and be required to complete anger management counseling, according to Bill Bishop, the chief assistant state attorney in Okaloosa County. He will not be allowed to own animals while on probation, Bishop said.

“Just the egregious nature of this, I felt, demanded a lengthy sentence,” Bishop said. “I’m pleased with the outcome of the case and grateful the judge followed our recommendation and imposed a state prison sentence.”