A Stratford man has been sentenced to 8 years in connection to a disturbing animal cruelty case in Fulton County.

However, it's likely Bentley Valdez will only serve two years in jail -- because the law only allows a person to spend two years in local jail for these kinds of crimes.

"If we could have gotten a greater sentence, I definitely would have been seeking it," said Fulton County District Attorney Chad Brown. "As the judge mentioned during her sentencing remarks, a sentence in prison would have been better here. The law just doesn’t provide for that."

In February, Valdez was found guilty of animal cruelty and failure to provide sustenance for several dogs. Last April, authorities found a disturbing scene on Valdez's property including nine dead mastiffs and 12 other dogs emaciated and malnourished. Two of those dogs died within months of being found.

"I took care of the dogs. I was at the place. It’s disgusting," said Kathy Baker, an animal advocate. "It should not happen, and yet we see it every day after day, happening over and over again."

The dogs were taken to James A. Brennan Memorial Humane Society and have since been adopted.