Man who shot his dog spared jail

A MAN who shot his pet dog and then left it to suffer in pain has escaped a jail sentence.

Christopher Gallier had been drinking heavily when he wounded his shar pei-type dog Roxie.

It was found by police and RSPCA officers in his house in Crompton Street, Coldhurst, in March.

Furniture was riddled with pellet marks and two air rifles were mounted on a wall.

An X-ray revealed a pellet lodged in the dog’s neck, but it survived after an operation.

At first Gallier claimed that the wound had been caused by glass in his back yard.

Oldham Magistrates Court heard that the yard was also littered with faeces and household items, including a fridge which appeared to have been shot at.

Gallier then changed his story and said the bullet had accidentally ricocheted off a cupboard and hit his pet.

But his uncle said he had aimed deliberately and District Judge James Prowse threatened him with jail if he did not accept responsibility.

David McCormick, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “He did agree that he hadn’t taken the dog for veterinary treatment right away.

“He had an appointment in the April and was waiting for that.”

Gallier, who is now homeless, pleaded guilty to shooting Roxy, failing to get it veterinary treatment and failing to keep it and a Jack Russell in a suitable environment.

Both dogs were later removed by the RSPCA.

Judge Prowse said: “The statement from your uncle is unequivocal. “You aimed and shot that dog and that is the basis on which I intend to deal with this.

“To take a decision like that, to deliberately fire at your own pet, then, to save your own skin, not to provide follow-up veterinary treatment when that animal would have been in pain, is almost beyond belief.”

Gallier was given a two-month sentence, suspended for a year, for each offence to run concurrently, and made subject to a supervision order.

He was banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £300 of the costs which amounted to over £6,000.

An order was made to confiscate and destroy the 0.22 calibre air rifle he used to shot Roxy.

Judge Prowse said that Gallier could have been been jailed for six months and added: “There was no excuse whatsoever for what you did.”