Man jailed for attacking puppy

A 36-year-old Napier man who kicked, slapped and swung around a puppy on its chain has been jailed for five months.

Edward Hazel was yesterday convicted in Napier District Court of intimidation, wilful ill-treatment of an animal and disorderly behaviour.

The court was told Hazel was seen yelling offensive language at the six-month-old puppy as it hid under a parked truck on Boxing Day last year.

He then turned towards two women and their children walking along the street yelling obscenities, including "you want to watch this dog die?"

He picked up the yelping puppy by its chain and swung it around his head like an athlete's "hammer throw".

The collar came loose and the puppy flew on to a neighbour's lawn.

He continued to abuse onlookers telling them to "watch this" as he picked up the puppy and threw it at a house.

He told police he was "pissed off" with the women and took it out on the puppy.