![Husky spared after killing pet cat Husky spared after killing pet cat](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/39DXPJ6bfYBT8JmDyHFbVdB/845e885d-c52b-4fac-b9bb-f1cc6affb9f7.JPG/r0_270_5184_3186_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A MAGISTRATE has spared the life of a Husky which killed another person’s pet cat in Woodvale earlier this year, saying he was prepared to give the dog “a chance”.
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The dog’s owner – a 21-year-old Woodvale woman – was ordered to pay almost $4000 in costs after pleading guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Monday to one charge from the City of Greater Bendigo.
The court heard the Husky escaped the woman’s property by digging a hole through a fence at the end of April.
It was later spotted in front of another person’s house dragging a cat in its mouth, mauling it with another dog.
The cat’s owner pulled the dogs away and locked them in his house before council officers arrived. The cat died in the attack.
The Husky’s owner was called and she “broke down in tears” when told about her dog’s actions, fearing it would be put down. The dog was impounded.
The woman claimed her dog was “scared of cats”, was reacting defensively and “it’s in a dog’s nature to kill cats”. She also went on an expletive-filled rant at council officers, claiming it was “just a f---ing cat”.
She said she would buy the people a new cat and pay them $10,000.
The court was told the Husky was vital to the woman’s wellbeing and its destruction would be like killing her best friend.
Magistrate Michael King said the woman’s lack of empathy towards the owners of the cat was unacceptable.
“Your client needs to appreciate that what dogs are to her, cats might be to other people,” he said.
“There was no need to use the situation to denigrate the love that the other person had for their pet.
“The officer didn’t need to be given a spray, he was just doing his job.”
The owner of the other dog involved in the attack had his dog put down after being incorrectly informed it would cost him “tens of thousands” of dollars in court costs to keep it alive.
Dr King said ordering the destruction of the Husky was in no one’s best interest.
“It would be excessive for the court to order for the destruction of the dog,” he said.
“I think it’s in the community’s interest that we give your dog a chance.”
The woman was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond with no conviction.
She must pay $1110 in court costs, make a $500 donation to the RSPCA, enrol her Husky in obedience training and pay $2374 in pound fees.