Two dogs stolen from a Bungowannah property could be heard howling in pain as they were shot and killed and their remains set on fire.
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Eric Robert Lavis, 62, was fined and is serving a community corrections order after stealing the dogs from his neighbour on June 9 last year.
The Kelpie, named Rosie, and an Irish Wolfhound called Hagar, jumped into the back of Lavis' vehicle at his neighbour's property.
Lavis drove them back to his property on the Riverina Highway and killed them.
He was this week ordered in the Corowa Local Court to pay $6000 in compensation to the dogs' owner Mark Lewry.
Mr Lewry was away at Rutherglen when the incident occurred, but his daughter Stephanie was forced to listen on as the dogs were killed.
"She could hear gunshots and could hear them howling in pain," Mr Lewry said.
"He had quite a large bonfire.
She could hear gunshots and could hear them howling in pain
- Mark Lewry
"He shot the dogs then burnt them straight away."
The dogs, who were aged five, had never caused any issues.
Mr Lewry said they spent all day with him while he worked, rounding up sheep and undertaking other farm duties.
He believes his neighbour didn't like the fact he was living at the property, which he said Lavis had wanted to purchase, and wanted to get rid of him.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"It's quite distressing to have your dogs put down and just burnt on a pile for no reason, other than that a neighbour has a gripe with me," Mr Lewry said.
"He was trying to put me in my place and trying to get me to leave.
"I've since moved from the area.
"I had my youngest daughter and granddaughter living with me at that premises.
"They weren't comfortable living there with what happened."
Police spoke to Mr Lewry three days after the incident and Lavis on June 22.
Senior Constable Russell Morris viewed Lavis' property and spoke to him about what had occurred.
"The way I look at it, I had every right to do what I did," Lavis told him.
The 62-year-old was issued a court attendance notice last July and was fined and placed on the corrections order last month.
He was ordered to pay $4000 compensation for Rosie and $2000 compensation for Hagar on Wednesday.
Mr Lewry said it was a relief the matter had been finalised.
