Feb 25, 2003 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

A Bullskin Township man agreed to plead guilty to one count of cruelty to animals Monday in Fayette County Court, and must do community service work for an animal shelter as part of his plea. Joseph A. Glowacki, 22, of 167 Medsger Road allegedly shot a 10-month-old German Shepherd puppy in the chest with an aluminum arrow last June 17 because the dog was playing with another dog in his yard.

The owner of the dog was identified as Eugene Butler of 677 Pleasant Valley Road, also in Bullskin Township.

State police said two witnesses saw Glowacki with a bow and arrow and heard a dog yelp shortly after seeing the dog in the neighborhood. The dog went back to its owner’s home with the arrow still stuck in its chest and was taken to a veterinary clinic, but later died.

Police said they questioned Glowacki and he admitted to shooting the dog, but said he did so because the German Shepherd was fighting with a dog chained up in his yard. A man with Glowacki at the time of the alleged shooting told police that the Shepherd never attacked the chained dog.

In addition to the community service, Glowacki will also be sentenced to four to eight months of intermediate punishment with house arrest, said District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon.

Glowacki is expected to enter his plea this week before President Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi.