Felony animal cruelty charges have been dismissed against a dog owner for leaving his Boston terrier outside in the cold during a 28-degree night late last year.

The man, Clifton Dale Bonner, 37, had charges dismissed by General Sessions Judge Bill Locke during his appearance before the court Tuesday afternoon. Bonner was directed to pay for the costs of having the animal maintained since it was taken from his possession in November. Once those costs are paid, the animal will be returned to him.

Bonner faced one to two years in prison had he been convicted of the original charge of aggravated animal cruelty.

The charges were brought after David Denton of McMinnville Animal Control showed up outside Bonner’s apartment on Old Smithville Road to investigate a call of blood in the parking lot of the apartment complex. When he arrived, he found blood from a deer and also found the Boston terrier.

“The Boston terrier was found outside with a temperature of 28 degrees,” Denton swore in his warrant against Bonner.

Denton said he made contact with Bonner and told him that keeping the animal out in the elements was a crime.

“I made him aware that due to the temperature that morning, it was a danger to the animal and was cruel to the dog,” Denton noted in pressing charges on the pet owner.