Pet ban for cruelty
A TOWNSVILLE man who lifted his dog up by a chain around its throat and slammed it into the ground has been banned from owning animals for five years.
Ashley Parkinson was caught on film hurting his bull arab cross named Apollo Creed in October 2016 in front of Townsville City Council animal officers.
After hitting the dog in the head and slamming it into the concrete, Parkinson told council staff he was going to shoot the dog dead.
Appearing in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday Parkinson showed no remorse for his actions, according to Magistrate Howard Osbourne, who labelled the attack a “gutless and cowardly act”.
Barrister Kelly Stone, for the RSPCA, said the dog felt pain during the attack, clearly yelping.
“The defendant held the chain tight with one hand up close to the dog and forcefully hit the dog on the top of the head with his other hand,” Mr Stone said.
“The dog had a nylon dog collar and Mr Parkinson also hit the dog with that. The dog yelped when it was hit and it ended up laying on its side submissively.
“The offender then grabbed the chain tight to the front of the dog and lifted the dog by its neck up to the defendant’s shoulder height and dropped the dog on to the concrete driveway.”
Mr Stone said local laws officers noticed the dog was not misbehaving at the time of the attack.
Outside court Parkinson said he was angry due to the dog constantly escaping, resulting in what he claimed was $ 5000 in fines.
The dog was put down last year after once again being collected by Townsville City Council.
Parkinson said he would like to own a dog again, so his 10- monthold son could grow up with a pet, but Mr Osbourne said Parkinson had shown no understanding of the seriousness of his actions.
“The members of this community would be rightfully appalled and outraged by your behaviour towards this trusting dog,” he said.
Mr Osbourne issued an order banning Parkinson from owning an animal for five years, the maximum possible time frame.
He also was ordered to attend anger management sessions and placed on 18 months’ probation.
Parkinson said he “loved that dog” when in court, and told the Bulletin he regretted his actions.
However, this did not come before he made obscene gestures to journalists in attendance.