Kansas City, Mo. ? The owner of three pit bulls that attacked three men was sentenced to two years probation on several municipal violations of the city’s animal-control ordinance.

Paul Piper will be required to perform community service and will be barred from owning or possessing any dog while on probation.

Independence Municipal Judge Susan G. Waters delayed ruling Thursday on charges that Piper failed to restrain dangerous dogs.

Piper, 34, of Independence, also faces three counts of third-degree assault in district court stemming from the May 4 attacks.

According to documents filed with the county charges, a man who lived next door to the house where the dogs were kept told police that Smith had told him he was planning to release the dogs “to see what kind of trouble he could cause.”

The neighbor, Earl D. Howard Jr., warned him not to but testified he later saw a window in the house open and the three dogs jump out.

He said he saw Smith at the window, laughing.

The three dogs attacked one man while he was out walking and two other men as they mowed grass.

The most seriously injured victim, Alan Hill, attended the hearing Thursday with his wife, Connie.

The Hills said they thought Piper should have to serve jail time. Alan Hill suffered extensive bites to the arms, upper body, face and head and remained in an area hospital for more than a month.

Piper apologized to Hill and said that another man broke into the house where he was staying and released the dogs.