SHAKOPEE, Minn. — Protesters turned out for the first court appearance for a Minnesota man accused of repeatedly hitting his elderly dog in the head with a sledgehammer.

More than three-dozen protesters carried signs demanding “Justice for Millie” outside the Scott County Courthouse Friday. The demonstrators filed into the courtroom as 71-year-old Rudolph Poppe appeared on felony animal cruelty charges.

Poppe is accused of beating his golden retriever with a sledgehammer July 12 as adults and children pleaded with him to stop. The dog had to be euthanized.

The Star Tribune reports Poppe’s attorney asked the judge to lower bail from $40,000 bond or $5,000 cash.

The judge refused to lower Poppe’s bail.