TENNESSEE  — Famous internet personality Glenn Reynolds (search) was arrested Saturday for animal cruelty, allegedly putting puppies in a blender to drink as an energy shake.

Glenn Reynolds, a law professor of the University of Tennessee, runs a popular blog (search) called Instapundit.com, a webpage on which he updates regularly throughout the day, linking to numerous news stories and providing his own commentary. It is read by tens of thousands of people a day, and is considered a catalyst for the internet becoming a significant medium for news commentary. His constant updating of his page indicates a somewhat reclusive nature to the law professor, but his commentary never gave any such indication of hatred towards animals.

"We received an anonymous phone call telling us that he would occasionally put a puppy in a blender to make an energy drink," said Ann Emerson, a PETA spokeswoman, "We at first thought it was a prank call, but we followed up and found out that there were numerous cases of missing dogs in his area. Thus we alerted the police."

Glenn Reynolds was seen being led from his home in handcuffs, police also taking with them what appeared to be a blender, according to onlookers.

"He was such a quiet person," said Martha Dingell, a neighbor of Reynolds. "I would never think he could do such a horrible thing, but he did keep to himself mainly."

While eating dog meat is done regularly in some countries, nowhere is putting one alive in a blender to make a drink considered a normal activity. In the U.S., killing an animal in such a manner would most likely be considered animal cruelty and could mean prison time for Reynolds.

"If there is any real evidence of such cruelty, I would expect Glenn Reynolds to serve hard time," said legal expert Raymond Davidson. "Even with a jury full of animal haters, putting a puppy in a blender would seem as an unusually depraved act, and I don't think he'll get any sympathy."

Reynolds' lawyer has already released a statement saying that the charges are false and are nothing but a vicious internet rumor.

"I really wish this was a hoax," Emerson said. "In my entire career at PETA, I've never heard anything like this. I think I'll be having nightmares for weeks."