A pet groomer convicted over the fatal beating of a dog with a hair dryer at a Maribyrnong salon has avoided jail-time after his three-month sentence was set aside on appeal.
Paul Rogers, 51, was convicted in September on animal cruelty charges over an incident at the Petbarn salon at Highpoint shopping centre in April last year. The court heard that the silky-fox terrier died soon after the incident.
Rogers, who entered a guilty plea, was sentenced to three months imprisonment and ordered to perform 200 hours community work.
The court also disqualified Rogers from being in charge of an animal for the maximum 10 years.
He appealed the severity of the sentence and was bailed pending the hearing of a County Court appeal last Friday.
County Court Judge Michael O’Connell set aside the sentence and 10-year disqualification, instead imposing an 18-month Community Correction order including 200 hours community work and a four-year ban on being in charge of any animal.
RSPCA Victoria prosecutor, Senior Inspector Daniel Bode, said Rogers’ act was a serious offence with terrible consequences.
“This was a serious offence with terrible consequences,” Mr Bode said.
“We are appalled at the cruelty inflicted on this dog, and the betrayal of trust experienced by the dog’s owners who had left the dog in the groomer’s care in good faith.
“We were able to put a strong case before the courts because of the full cooperation of the
Petbarn business during the investigation, including providing CCTV footage.”
Rogers was also ordered to pay RSPCA Victoria’s costs of $4368.
