Jail term for killing pet dog

By LOUISA CLEAVE

A judge has sentenced a man who stabbed a pet dog to death to three months' prison.

It is the first custodial sentence handed down in an SPCA prosecution in Auckland since 1987.

Auckland SPCA senior inspector Bruce Wills described the sentence as one "commensurate with a cruel and remorseless act and the public's opinion of such acts against animals".

Mark Lang, a 37-year-old labourer of Ramarama, was found guilty of ill-treating a dog and sentenced to three months in prison by Judge Mary-Elizabeth Sharpe when he appeared in the Pukekohe District Court.

He was also disqualified from owning or exercising authority over any animals for five years.

Lang is currently serving a 15-month sentence for assault.

Judge Sharpe described his actions as a "callous and unprovoked attack on a defenceless and much-loved pet".

In a defended hearing, the court heard that Lang stabbed Sha, a 9-year-old black male belgian shepherd-malamute cross, last December, causing a 3cm deep puncture wound near the left jugular.

The dog belonged to Nicholas and Ali Murray, caretakers of the Ramarama Country Inn Units, where Lang lived.

Sha was chained to the front of their unit on the night of December 21.

Mr Murray said that at 12.50am he heard Lang outside swearing and yelling at the animal.

Lang said the dog had bitten him but there was no physical evidence to prove the claim.

A summary of facts presented to the court said Lang pointed at the dog and shouted, "I am going to kill you".

Mr Murray tried to calm him but Lang swore again and said to the dog, "Tonight you live, tomorrow you die".

He attempted to hit the dog with a leaf rake, which was wrestled from him.

Lang walked off in the direction of his unit but several minutes later he reappeared and ran towards the dog.

Mr Murray saw Lang grab one of the dog's front legs and lift his arm above his head with his hand closed around an object.

The summary of facts said: "[Lang] then brought his arm down on the dog at speed. The dog screamed and continued to yelp, before going limp. [Lang] ran away and when the owner reached the dog, the dog was covered in blood."

A vet said the injury was consistent with a sharpened stabbing instrument being swung with considerable force into the dog's throat. He said the animal would have experienced considerable pain.

Sha was taken to the SPCA Animal Hospital in Mangere in a serious condition. He died a short time later.

Mr Murray said yesterday that Sha was his wife's adored pet and she had been distraught for weeks after the attack.

"[Lang] deserved a damn sight more [time in jail] for this barbaric act and blatant denial of it."