NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An embattled Sumner County veterinarian pleaded guilty on Friday to charges including animal cruelty.

Video: Veterinarian Pleads Guilty To Charges

As part of the plea, Dr. Bill Baber will not have to serve any jail time, will pay a fine of $5,000 and also serve 200 hours of community service. He was also sentenced to supervised probation.

Baber had been charged with 12 misdemeanor offenses, including animal cruelty.

"There are people who would oppose this resolution, but we have to follow the law no matter what public opinion is," said Asst. District Attorney Thomas Dean.

Undercover video first obtained by the I-Team showed Baber putting animals to death in the Sumner County Animal Shelter by injecting them directly into the heart without sedation. The practice was later deemed inhumane.

Baber lost his license and was charged with animal abuse after a Channel 4 I-Team investigation last November.

He regained his license in April and has been practicing since.

"I hope he has a change of heart, and I hope many vets do because I'm animal lover and that hurt be personally," said animal advocate Peg Olea.

Baber remains on probation with the Veterinary Licensing Board for the next five years, which means he'll have to appear before the board every year for the next five years to give board members an update on his status.

Before Channel 4's investigation, the assistant district attorney said there was little talk about how animals were put to death in shelters.

However, there are new procedures in place in that shelter and across the state for euthanizing animals humanely.