A 27-year-old Canberra man has been refused bail after allegedly killing his ex-partner's dog with a shovel, an act captured on backyard security cameras. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at a home in north Canberra, where the man lived with the woman and her two pets, including a small white dog named Mishka.
According to police documents tendered in the ACT Magistrates Court, the man arrived home around 4:00pm and found a note from his ex-partner asking him to feed the dogs. Security footage allegedly shows him picking up Mishka, punching it repeatedly, throwing a ball at it, kicking it, and hurling it across the yard. The attack lasted 17 minutes before he placed the dog on its bed and left to pick up his ex-partner.
When the woman returned, she found Mishka injured and took it to a vet, where it was euthanased due to the severity of its injuries. The following day, the woman's brother helped her review the security footage. Police later interviewed the man, who allegedly admitted to disliking the dog because it chewed his clothes and soiled the house. He also said he had a bad day at work and was frustrated about the relationship.
The man has been charged with one count of aggravated animal cruelty causing death. Under ACT law, attacking an animal belonging to a family member or ex-partner can constitute family violence. Magistrate Louise Taylor refused bail on Saturday, and the man is scheduled to reappear in court on September 10.
