NATCHEZ — The man arrested for tying a dog to a tree and lighting it on fire was sentenced to serve six months in the county jail and pay a $1,000 fine.

The sentence was the maximum allowed by Mississippi law, since torturing animals is not a felony.

Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess also ordered Travis Bradford, 20, to pay restitution to the veterinarian’s office that tried to save the dog and ultimately put it to sleep.

And Vess recommended that Bradford, who was pursuing a career as a certified nursing assistant, get a full psychological examination.

Bradford pleaded guilty to charges that he had tied the dog to a tree in front a neighbor’s house, poured flammable liquid on the animal and set it on fire.

When the neighbor Hattie Smith heard the dog’s cries and screams Saturday, she came outside and told Bradford to extinguish the flames. He beat out the fire with his sweatshirt.

Bradford, who turned himself in Wednesday night, waived his right to a trial and to an attorney, Vess said.

Bradford gave the court a note he had written saying he was sorry for what he had caused.

“I told him, ‘Hitler burned people in World War II, but they were dead first,” Vess said. “It’s just unacceptable.”

Vess said he’s hopeful the case can become a test case for new state legislation making such crimes a felony. And Vess hopes the community will now help law enforcement monitor dog fighting and other cases of animal abuse.

Vess said he was considering letting Bradford work off his $1,000 fine by shoveling dog pens at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.