A man who kicked his puppy so hard he broke its leg "loved his dog" and would not sign it over to the SPCA so they could re-home it because he wanted his "friend" back.
"Frankly put, you were not Blaze's friend," Judge Emma Smith told Craig Alan Mann (28), unemployed, when she sentenced him in the Dunedin District Court yesterday to 150 hours' community work for ill-treating an animal.
Mann was also ordered to pay $900 reparation to the Otago SPCA, banned from owning an animal for two years and ordered to forfeit the dog.
Members of the public heard Mann's dog, named Blaze, "scream in pain" when they saw him kick it at least four times on March 7.
He then opened his front door and threw the dog through the doorway.
Counsel Jim Takas said Mann was immediately remorseful and took the dog to the vet himself and paid the $761 bill.
"He loves his dog.
"The dog is his friend."
Mr Takas asked for a ban on owning an animal not be imposed as it would be a "dreadful thing" for Mann, who hoped to have his dog back.
"This was an impulsive act.
"It was senseless and a lashing out."
Mann wanted to do an anger management course, he said.
SPCA counsel Kate Hay said the dog had been in the SPCA's custody since March.
A new home had been found for Blaze, but as Mann refused to sign the dog over they could not re-home it unless an order for forfeiture was made.
Judge Emma Smith said the defendant had given no explanation of what happened to the dog.
Mann had been "particularly violent" towards his "very young dog" and the dog's broken leg suggested a "degree of force no animal should have to suffer".
When contacted Dunedin SPCA inspector Stephanie Saunders said she was pleased about the anger management.
"We are not just about punishing.
"We want to see these people get some help."
It had been frustrating Blaze had not been able to go to a new home.
While the SPCA provided expert care, it could not be compared to home life.
Looking after the puppy since March had cost the SPCA about $2500, she said.
