Photo courtesy of the Washington Humane Society

A D.C. man charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty for declawing his daughter’s two eight-week-old kittens at home last year was sentenced to 180 days in jail today, but that portion of his sentence was suspended.

Instead, Eric Gaskin, who pleaded guilty to the charges last November, will have to spend that time in a halfway house, and will also be placed on probation for three years. Additionally, he’ll have to undergo a mental health screening, complete 40 hours of community service, and pay $100 to a victims of crime fund. He’ll also be required to take parenting classes and is forbidden from owning any pets.

At the time of the incident, the Washington Humane Society called Gaskin’s actions one of the worst instances of animal torture they had ever dealt with. The cats were eventually euthanized. In a statement today, the group said that it was disappointed that Gaskin wasn;t sent to prison for the incident.

“We are pleased to have justice for Simba and Pumba, however, we are disappointed that the judge chose to disregard the prosecution’s recommendation for the maximum punishment allowable for this heinous act,” said Scott Giacoppo, the Humane Society’s Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Programs Officer.

On the same day that Gaskin pleaded guilty last year, another D.C. man was sentenced to 120 days in jail for killing a puppy with a 100-pound cement block.

Correction: An initial version of this post said that Gaskin’s entire sentence was suspended, when only the portion that would send him to prison for 180 days was suspended. He’ll still have to serve 180 days in a halfway house.