A Granby man who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty has avoided jail time.
Normand Girard, 52, admitted his guilt last year to three counts of animal cruelty, coming after he tried to kill a dog and its puppies.
First Girard tried to gas the dogs, but when that didn't work he used a nail gun to shoot several animals in the head, then dumped them on the side of a road in Brome Lake.
Only one of the animals died, while the rest recovered from their injuries.
In court Girard said he was disgusted by own actions and regrets what he did, but said he was not himself at the time
"I lost control of myself because of difficult circumstances," said Girard.
The judge agreed, noting that Girard was on the verge of a psychotic breakdown and that he could not cope with the added stress of caring for the animals that had been abandoned by his daughter.
Girard has been sentenced to community service and must make a $2,000 donation to a humane society.
He is also barred from owning animals for three years.
After sentencing Girard was contrite.
"It's not that animals are worthless, it's that there's a difference between the act, and taking pleasure in the act."
