A man from Linwood has been sentenced to 364 days in the Atlantic County Jail and five years of probation following his release in the death of his dog.

Kyle Blythe, 24, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty following an investigation in December of 2020. He pleaded guilty to third-degree animal cruelty.

Police were contacted by staff at the Absecon Veterinary Hospital after Blythe's 4-month-old Pitbull puppy, Dolce, was treated for severe head trauma and presented with numerous signs of blunt force trauma to her head and body.

Dolce died as a result of her injuries. Police determined Blythe had become angry with Dolce after she chewed up some of his clothing and then beat her, causing severe brain injuries which led to her death.