A 33-year-old man faces charges that he bit a police dog during a disturbance outside a downtown bar in Syracuse, New York. Paul Russell was charged with injuring a police animal, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.

"I don't think I bit the dog. I just got into a fight with him," Russell said. "I don't really remember what happened. I was pretty drunk."

The incident occurred when Officer Foster and his dog, a German shepherd named Renny, were sent to investigate a disturbance at 10 p.m. outside a bar in Syracuse's Armory Square district.

Russell said he and a friend were asked to leave the tavern and then got into a tussle with bouncers.

According to police reports, Russell grabbed Renny by the throat and started choking the animal and biting it on the left side of his neck. After the arrest, Renny was taken to a veterinarian. Foster said the animal had swelling in his neck and was sore where he was bitten.

"The dog is off for the next two days. He'll be back for his regular shift. He's not expected to miss any time," said Lt. Cecile, a police spokesman.