Twenty-six-year-old Alexander Bernard was sentenced Tuesday in Meriden Superior Court by Judge Philip Scarpellino. The New Haven Register reports (http://bit.ly/sJbkl1 ) that Bernard apologized before pleading guilty to cruelty to animals under the Alford doctrine, meaning he didn't agree with all the allegations but conceded there was enough evidence to be convicted.
Authorities say Bernard stabbed his 1-year-old Staffordshire terrier, Princess, last May in Hamden.
The dog was treated by veterinarians and later adopted by a Hamden resident. It was recently named grand marshal of the Halloween Pet Parade by the Hamden Happy Tails Foundation.
