-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Ohio firefighter faces jail time and may lose his job for shooting his two dogs to death rather than pay to board them while he went on a cruise . Columbus , Ohio , firefighter David Santuomo shot his two dogs in his home 's basement , prosecutors say . Columbus firefighter David P. Santuomo , 43 , took Sloopy and Skeeter to his home 's basement , suspended them from a pipe near the ceiling and fired at least 11 shots from a .22 - caliber rifle fitted with a homemade silencer , Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron J. O'Brien said . Santuomo then wrapped the carcasses in plastic and dumped them in a trash bin behind Firehouse 27 , where he worked , O'Brien said . `` This is pretty heinous , '' said Cheri Miller , spokeswoman for the Capital Area Humane Society , which carried out a search warrant in Santuomo 's home . The humane society has limited law enforcement powers in Franklin County . Santuomo pleaded guilty in June to two misdemeanor counts of improperly killing a companion animal and a felony count of possession of a criminal tool . Santuomo had fashioned a makeshift silencer by taping a 2-liter soda bottle to the end of the rifle . The incident happened in December . Miller said appalled fellow firefighters turned Santuomo in to authorities . `` There were reports that he was bragging about this , '' she said . Santuomo initially told investigators the dogs had ingested antifreeze and he killed them to put them out of their misery , Miller said . However , after necropsies showed the dogs were not poisoned , the firefighter admitted shooting them because he could n't afford to board them , she said . Public records show Santuomo has twice filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and underwent a home foreclosure in 2003 . The Columbus Division of Fire has received more than 2,000 outraged e-mails and calls from the public , said Battalion Chief David Whiting , the department 's spokesman . `` People are not very happy , '' he said . `` We had people say they should do to him what he 's done to the dogs . A lot of people want him fired . They do n't want him coming into their house . They 're worried about their animals ; they 're worried about their kids . They 'd just as soon let their house burn down if he shows up . '' The Division of Fire has concluded an internal investigation , including interviews with Santuomo , Whiting said . The report now goes to Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. , who will schedule a disciplinary hearing . Punishment , if any , could range from a verbal reprimand to firing , Whiting said . With appeals and possible arbitration , the whole process could take a month or more , he said . In the meantime , Santuomo is working in the division 's fire alarm office , `` where he is not dealing face to face with the public , '' Whiting said . If he remains employed with the fire division , he will return to his regular assignment , though that could bring a new set of challenges , Whiting added . `` If someone did this that worked next to you at work , how would you feel about working with him ? '' Whiting asked . `` We 'll cross that bridge when we come to it . ... There are a lot of options . '' Santuomo has only minor disciplinary matters , such as tardiness , in his record , Whiting said . Santuomo was sentenced to 90 days in jail , to be served in 10-day increments over the next two years . He also has to pay $ 4,500 in restitution , perform 200 hours of community service , stay away from companion animals for five years and write a letter of apology to be published in the local newspaper and the International Association of Firefighters magazine , the humane society 's Miller said . Santuomo 's attorney said that his client is remorseful over his actions and that people need to temper their outrage . `` It 's the same old story . They could n't care less about people and they love animals , '' lawyer Sam Shamansky said . The firefighter , who could not be reached for comment , has no criminal history other than traffic violations , Shamansky said . `` It , of course , was a heinous act , and it 's an act for which he 's sorry and has accepted responsibility , '' Shamansky said of the dog killings . `` He 's been punished appropriately , and I think it 's now time for the public to practice what they preach and show a little forgiveness and mercy . Maybe that might be a novel approach . ''