A migrant man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for assaulting a couple in Jiading district during a botched attempt to kill, steal and then eat their dogs, a district court said Wednesday.

The defendant, along with his younger brother, both unidentified, entered a villager's yard in Jiading district early one day in August 2012 and threw poisoned food to the two dogs inside, according to a press release from Jiading District People's Court. Their goal was to kill the dogs so they could take them home and eat them.

Dog meat remains a delicacy in some parts of China and among some groups in Shanghai.

Before the brothers could escape, a husband and wife in the village caught them removing the carcasses. The couple accused the brothers of poisoning their dogs, and tried to stop them.

The elder of the two brothers threatened the couple and picked up a brick to use as a weapon, the court said.

Neighboring residents came to the couple's aid and managed subdue the two brothers.

One person suffered minor injuries during the scuffle.

Because the brothers were the only breadwinners in their family, the court sentenced the younger brother three years in prison with a three-year reprieve, equivalent to three years of probation.

"The younger brother helped pull the woman away from the fight, so the court ruled with lenience," said Zhu Jiayan, who works in the research department at Jiading District People's Court. 

The younger brother will not have to serve time in prison as long as he abides by the term of his probation.