The continuing trend of children and young men harming animals is alarming and the system needs to be harsher on people who ill-treat animals, Dunedin SPCA inspector Stephanie Saunders says.
"This sort of behaviour is a serious indicator of people who go on to harm more animals or humans in later life," she said.
Jeffrey Robin Hurring (19) was convicted in the Dunedin District Court yesterday of wilfully ill-treating an animal causing death, after a Jack Russell dog was strangled, had petrol poured down its throat and was hit over the head with a shovel during a prolonged attack.
Children were present during the attack, which lasted for more than half an hour. The SPCA was notified the next day by a teacher, who said the children were distraught about the incident.
Ms Saunders said the case was the most "horrific" she had dealt with in her 24 years with the SPCA. She hoped Hurring would receive a significant sentence that would act as a deterrent to other people. "This trend is very concerning," she said.
The SPCA expressed disappointment last month at a four-month jail term handed down to Auckland man Wayne Williams, who repeatedly beat his fiancee's fox terrier with a metal pole, then strangled it to death, luring the dog out from under a deck during the attack so he could continue the beating.
The judge described the attack as "callous" and "deliberate", but took into account Williams' guilty plea and his apparent remorse.
At the time, SPCA general manager David Lloyd-Barker said while he was happy Williams received a "significant" jail term, he had hoped it would be much harsher.
Also in April, three 17-year-old youths were arrested after they blew a sheep's jaw off with fireworks and attempted to set the animal on fire at Mt Maunganui. They have denied disorderly behaviour and wilful ill-treatment charges.
Ms Saunders said another disturbing aspect of the Dunedin incident was that none of the parents or caregivers of the children present had contacted the SPCA or police.
