WA man fined, banned from owning pets after barbaric ‘euthanasia’ attempt on dogs

A South Coast man has been fined $15,000 and banned from owning a pet for three years following a “barbaric” attempt to kill his two dogs using a mallet two years ago.

John Druin Hooper, 45, of Narrikup, appeared in the Albany Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged over the incident, which Magistrate Dianne Scaddan described as a “brutal, severe and cruel act”.

Hooper pleaded guilty to two counts of ill-treating an animal, arising from what he claimed was his attempt to “euthanase” two healthy Shih…