Joan Renee Zalk (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)

A Boulder yoga instructor and acupuncturist accused of running a Chihuahua outside her car as she drove it down the street pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty charges last week.

Joan Renee Zalk, 30, was sentenced to a one year deferred sentence and 100 hours of community service as part of the plea deal. The deferred sentence means the misdemeanor will be wiped from her record if she stays out of trouble for the duration of the sentence.

Zalk had been scheduled to go on trial in June on animal cruelty and menacing charges.

Witnesses told police in September 2011 that Zalk was driving a Toyota Camry at 10 to 15 mph along Moorhead Avenue as a small dog on a leash ran alongside.

According to the police report, Zalk also told a witness who confronted her, "Excuse me, I have a gun in my car. Do you want me to get it?"

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped a menacing charge related to the gun allegation.

Zalk told police she was pet-sitting and was simply giving the dog exercise.

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Boulder yoga instructor Joan Zalk pleads guilty to running Chihuahua alongside car