A former George Town man who starved his Staffordshire Bull Terrier to the point of death was banned for life from owning an animal on Wednesday.
Samuel Gregory Barker, 32, of West Moonah was found guilty of one count of aggravated cruelty to three-year-old Gypsy, over a six week period to October 4, 2019.
Magistrate Ken Stanton also sentenced Barker to 140 hours of community service work.
The court heard that Barker was in the process of moving to Hobart when he left Gypsy in a chicken shed without adequate food.
When the dog was retrieved by the RSPCA it was unable to move for lack of strength.
Gypsy was euthanised and a post mortem found it had leaves in its stomach because of starvation.
The body condition was described as 0.5 out of five.
Mr Stanto said the dog had suffered neglect over a significant period.
He said that he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Barker had arranged for a young neighbour to feed the dog.
"If there was any arrangement it was manifestly inadequate," he said.
He said that the case was one of neglect rather than violence and torture.
Mr Stanton said evidence was given that Barker was not sophisticated.
"However, in an interview with police the defendant was deliberately evasive in answering questions," he said.
He ordered that Barker submit to an 18 month Community Corrections Order.
He said he had considered imprisonment and that a fine was inadequate punishment.
"I make an order that you be disqualified for the term of your natural life from having custody of any domestic animal," Mr Stanton said.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
