A man whose dog died after he left her in a car for three days in the height of summer has been banned from owning canines for 10 years.
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Craig Lee Binder was convicted and sentenced in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court this week to a 12-month community corrections order with 80 hours of community work and treatment to address any drug, alcohol and mental health issues.
On December 30 last year, Binder's German Shepherd-cross Tully was discovered dead in a vehicle at a petrol station in the Bendigo area.
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A RSPCA inspector obtained CCTV footage from the petrol station that showed the vehicle had arrived shortly after 8am on December 27, and Tully was alive at that time.
The RSPCA said data gathered from the Bureau of Meteorology showed daytime temperatures during the period of December 27 and December 30 ranged from 38 to 42 degrees.
Binder pleaded guilty to worrying, tormenting or terrifying an animal, committing an act of cruelty by confining an animal, and committing an act of aggravated cruelty that resulted in the death of an animal.
In court this week, Binder told magistrate Sharon McRae he was "very sorry for [his] terrible behaviour" and he did not have an excuse for it other than he had experienced a "breakdown".
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Ms McRae accepted he was sorry, noting he had had Tully for five years, but said he had a duty to ensure any animals under his care were safe.
She said Binder did not intend for the dog to die in such a way, and she wanted him to get assistance for his addiction issues.
Any treatment Binder undertakes under the community corrections order will count towards his community work hours.
He was prohibited from owning any canine for 10 years, but was permitted to keep his pet cat.
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