Lower north shore man banned from owning pets after tormenting terrified dog with a hammer.

By ANNA USHER

WARNING DISTURBING CONTENT: Video footage supplied to Court showed the defendant kicking the dog on multiple occasions, threatening and prodding the dog with a hammer, lifting him by his collar and throwing him to the ground.

A 35-year-old Greenwich man has been banned from owning a pet for five years after pleading guilty to five cruelty offences against his 10-month-old Doberman, “Ohlins”.

Video filmed by a witness and supplied to RSPCA NSW showed the defendant kicking the puppy multiple times and using a hammer to threaten and “prod” the terrified animal.

The footage also depicted the man lifting the dog by his collar, throwing him to the ground, and confining him to an inadequately sized crate.

A vet who examined the footage said Ohlins was subject to “unjustifiable” torture and torment as well as physical and psychological abuse.

The RSPCA said the dog’s repeated attempts to escape show how terrified it was.

When Inspectors and NSW Police visited the Greenwich property on 7 July, the man denied any allegations of cruelty.

“The defendant was asked to produce the hammer used to threaten Ohlins, which was kept inside the dog’s enclosure in the backyard,” The RSPCA told Mosman Collective.

“When the defendant walked inside the mesh cage to retrieve the tool, Ohlins cowered and scurried away in fear.”

The Dobermann and the hammer were seized and transported to RSPCA NSW Yagoona. He has since been transferred to a Doberman rescue group.

“In the expert opinion of the examining veterinarian, Ohlins was subjected to unjustifiable physical and psychological abuse, torment, and torture in the video footage,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.

Along with the five-year ownership ban, the accused man was sentenced by Parramatta Court on 30 August to three Community Correction Orders (to be served concurrently), with the longest operating for two years.

He was also ordered to pay a sum of $4,640.58 in animal care costs to RSPCA NSW.

“We are incredibly grateful for the vigilant witnesses who came forward and reported this case,” RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers said.

“This investigation highlights the powerful role that the community plays in helping end the suffering of animals and is a timely reminder to always trust your instinct and come forward if you witness suspicious behaviour.

“Every animal deserves to live in a safe and loving environment. One phone call could literally save the life of an animal, like Ohlins, and give them a second chance.”

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