Cat killer sentenced to death despite girl's plea

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An 11-year-old girl traumatised after watching a dog called Bully maul her pet cat to death has asked a judge to save the bull-terrier cross from death row.

But the judge ordered the dog be destroyed.

The dog's owner, Bay of Plenty man Michael Murray, was visiting a Hall Rd address about 4pm on May 8 with a friend.

While the adults were busy talking, the dog attacked. Shortly after the girl ran up to her father saying, "Dad, Dad, the dog has my cat.''

Her father chased the dog off after he saw it had the cat in its mouth and was violently shaking it but the cat was already dead.

Murray pleaded with Judge Peter Rollo in Tauranga District Court yesterday for mercy to be shown to his beloved pet.

The dog now lives with his father and other whanau who have grown attached to the animal, which is housed in a secure environment.

A letter was also handed up to the judge from the child's father confirming they did not want to see Bully destroyed, and asked that the animal be given a second chance.

But Tauranga City Council's animal services team leader Brent Lincoln said Bully was known to animal control and had been classified as a dangerous dog after previous incidents. Murray had been sent a warning notice that his dog must be on a lead and muzzled while at large or in a public place unless confined in a vehicle or a cage.

Mr Lincoln said the attack occurred in front of the 11-year-old girl, who was left traumatised and received counselling.

Duty solicitor John Holmes said Murray, who had offered a replacement cat to the child, had been brought to tears by the thought that his pet was facing destruction, he said.

Judge Rollo said this was an "emotive and vexing'' matter for courts and dog owners who were attached to their animals but destruction was mandatory unless there were exceptional circumstances.

In this case there were none and an aggravating feature to the attack was that Murray had failed to ensure his dog was kept under control.

Murray again pleaded with Judge Rollo to rethink the issue.

Judge Rollo replied that he was doing his job and following the law.

Murray, who last week pleaded guilty to a charge of being the owner of dog which attacked a domestic animal, was also fined $500 plus $132.89 court costs.