$4000 FINE FOR CHOKING PET DOG
Man fined over daylight killing of loved family pet
A PITTSWORTH man swore at witnesses and ignored an off-duty police officer when he strangled a family pet to death in front of its owner earlier this year, it has been revealed.
The horror attack took place on a suburban street in broad daylight. Yesterday, he walked free from court with a fine.
‘‘ WE’RE VERY PLEASED THAT THE MATTER HAS NOW BEEN RESOLVED AND THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME CLOSURE ... ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN SO THEY CAN NOW MOVE FORWARD
MATTHEW WINTERS
THE devastated family of a staffy strangled to death in front of their grandmother by a neighbour believe they finally have closure after the loss of their beloved “Bear”.
Rodney Leonard Farrand pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday, where the confronting details surrounding the 13-year-old dog’s death were revealed.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Christie Mahoney told the court Farrand arrived home and noticed the dog on the pathway outside of his house in Pittsworth.
It was at that point that the 71-year-old grabbed the dog by the collar and began choking and kneeling on it.
The horrified owner of Bear began to plead to end the ordeal, which occurred in broad daylight, but Farrand only continued to choke the dog and yell obscenities at witnesses who urged him to stop.
An off-duty police officer then arrived at the scene and ordered Farrand to stop, telling him the dog had not even gone into his yard when the melee began.
The court heard Farrand ignored the senior constable and instead then dragged Bear into his yard to continue choking him.
“That f---g dog is always barking,” he was heard to say during the scuffle.
His solicitor Brad Skuse said his client feared the dog would bite him during the incident and acted out of concern for his own safety.
Farrand was fined $4000 and ordered to pay $259 of restitution to the family of Bear who cremated their pet.
“The dog was not being aggressive and you were yelling obscenities at the owner,” Magistrate Viviana Keegan said.
“A lot of force must have been used in the death of Bear.”
Bear’s owner Matthew Winters told waiting media outside of court that his family would be donating those funds to the RSPCA.
“We’re very pleased that the matter has now been resolved and that we can have some closure.
“Especially the children so they can now move forward.”