Ownership ban after man kicked dog to death

File photo / NZ Herald

A West Auckland man has been banned from owning a dog for five years after kicking and punching his dog to death.

Edmond Te Raupo Apanui, 18, had previously pleaded guilty to wilfully ill-treating an animal, causing it to die.

The charge carried a maximum term of five years' imprisonment.

At Waitakere District Court today, Judge John Bergseng sentenced Apanui to four months' community detention, banned him from owning or exercising authority over an animal for five years and ordered him to pay $444 in reparation to Mangere SPCA.

According to the police summary of facts, Apanui was walking his pitbull dog through Corban Park in Henderson on the evening of November 23 last year.

He picked the dog up by its collar, causing it to "cock her head to one side and scream".

Apanui then picked up his dog by its hind legs and threw it to the ground, holding it there as he kicked and punched it.

He then picked the dog up again, raised it above his head and threw it to the ground. Apanui was heard yelling at his dog to get up, but when he realised the dog was dead he walked off.

"In explanation the defendant stated he kicked the dog to discipline it because it was rowdy and nipped him," the summary stated.

Judge Bergseng also convicted and discharged Apanui to one a charge of driving while disqualified last December and one charge of trespassing.

As Apanui left the court he was accosted by Paw Justice co-founder Craig Dunn, who had sat in on his sentencing.

Mr Dunn told Apanui he was "lucky" not to be imprisoned for his offending.

Outside court, Mr Dunn told APNZ that "justice wasn't served".

"That was a five-year jail sentence for wilful ill-treatment of an animal and it ended up being four months' home D."

Apanui should also have been banned for life from owning an animal, not five years, Mr Dunn said.

"For the things he did to that animal, he should be banned for life.

"That animal died for nothing."