SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Puerto Rico judge on Thursday found a businessman guilty of animal abuse for fatally shooting a stray dog on a golf course nearly two years ago, noting the defendant did so not out of fear but because the animal was interrupting the game.

The ruling against Salil Zaveri was cheered by animal activists who have previously accused the U.S. territory for taking little to no action against those suspected of abusing or killing animals.