"Depriving an animal of life is an act of callousness and contempt for life," Puerto Rico Justice Secretary Domingo Emanuelli said.

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<div class="m"><picture><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/343/192/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/686/384/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x"><source media="(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/672/378/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/1344/756/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/931/523/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/1862/1046/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/720/405/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/1440/810/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x"> <img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/02/640/320/DOTCOM_STATE_COUNTRY_NEWS_GEN_USA.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1" alt="A Puerto Rico judge has found a man guilty in a fatal dog shooting two years ago on a golf course.&nbsp;" width="100%" height="auto"></picture></div> <div class="info"><div class="caption"><p><span>A Puerto Rico judge has found a man guilty in a fatal dog shooting two years ago on a golf course.&nbsp;</span> </p></div></div>

An attorney for Zaveri could not be immediately reached for comment.

Zaveri previously said he was <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6320057239112" target="_blank">acting in self-defense</a>, but witnesses who were playing with him that day testified that the small dog was about 30 feet away and had briefly played with one of the golf balls.

While Zaveri is scheduled to be sentenced in April, the judge ordered his immediate detention.

A Puerto Rico judge has found a man guilty of animal abuse in a fatal dog shooting two years ago. The man shot the dog because the animal interfered with a golf game.

Puerto Rico judge finds man guilty of animal abuse in fatal dog shooting

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