Man poisoned dog for stealing shoe

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 4

Man poisoned dog for stealing shoe

PA Auckland A man laid poison for a neighbour’s dog because he thought it stole his shoe, Auckland’s North Shore District Court was told yesterday. Kevin Eric West, aged 27, a self-employed floor layer, admitted an aggravated cruelty charge by laying Mevinphos poison which killed the wire-haired terrier dog. He also admitted throwing poisoned dog food on his property. Judge Murray remanded West to December 9 for a probation report and sentencing. The Court was told that five cats died and three other dogs required treatment after eating the poison. Sergeant Les Green told the Court that West obtained the poison because he wanted to keep dogs off his

Tableau Place garden which was unfenced. The substance was a deadly poison, listed on schedule one of the Toxic Substances Regulations, 1983. West mixed it with half a can of pet food and put it on his front porch specifically to kill the terrier, Mr Green said. He said West thought the dog was always stealing one of his shoes. -The next day he found the half consumed pet food but no dead body. He assumed the poison had not worked, and threw the rest of it into the corner of his section. The poison took two days to kill the terrier. Mr Green said that when questioned, West said he had not thought other animals or children would consume the poison. Judge Murray recommended community service for West. __