MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. - A St. Clair Shores man charged with third-degree animal torture for the alleged abuse of his dog was sentenced on Monday to serve 30 days in jail and 18 months of probation.

Authorities say that on March 15, Michael Sikorski, 28, slammed his dog Steel into the ground and kicked it several times before picking it up by the leash and slamming it into the ground again.

The dog was not permanently injured and was safely rehomed, prosecutors said.

Sikorski pleaded no contest to the charge in July in exchange for a lesser sentence. Penalties for torturing or killing an animal can vary in severity in Michigan and can be impacted by many factors, including whether the animal is a pet or a companion animal.

Someone convicted of animal cruelty as a form of domestic violence can face up to 10 years in prison. Third-degree animal torture carries a maximum sentence of four years.

 I hope this man learned that animal abuse is wrong,  said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido in a news release about the sentencing.  There is no exception to the moral and legal obligation to care for and not harm your pets. Our society will not stand for such abusive treatment, and neither will my office. 

As a condition of his sentence, Sikorski is also prohibited from consuming alcohol and owning or being around animals. He will also be required to wear an alcohol tether for 90 days.

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