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, according to ACT police.
Police documents tendered in the ACT Magistrates Court allege that on Wednesday afternoon, the man arrived home to find a note from his ex-partner asking him to feed her two dogs. Security footage shows him picking up a small white dog named Mishka, punching it repeatedly, throwing a ball at it, kicking it, and hurling it across the yard over a 17-minute period.
The man then placed the injured dog on its bed and left to pick up his ex-partner. When she discovered Mishka's injuries, she took the dog to a vet, where it was euthanased due to the severity of its injuries. The woman's brother helped her review the security footage the following day.
During police interviews, the man allegedly said he disliked the dog because it frequently chewed his clothes and urinated or defecated in the house. He also claimed he 'had a bad day at work' and was frustrated by the state of his relationship with the woman.
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 be considered family violence. Magistrate Louise Taylor refused bail on Saturday, with the man to reappear in court on September 10.
