Woman calls dog ‘a traitor’, punches it in front of police

The woman repeatedly punched the dog while police attended the home for another matter

Tracy Ann McManus was sentenced in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court for animal cruelty.

Repeatedly punching a dog in front of police has landed a woman before court.

Tracy Ann McManus pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty when she appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrates Court last week.

The court heard police were called to a home in relation to another matter.

McManus was "intoxicated and very emotional" when police arrived, police prosecutor Sonia Edwards said.

While sitting nearby as her partner talked to police, the officers observed her hit the dog repeatedly with a closed fist, Senior Constable Edwards said.

McManus struck the dog in the head, then squeezed the dog's head with her hands.

She then hit the dog a few more times, the court was told.

The police overheard her calling the dog "a traitor".

When police asked her partner why she had called the dog that, he told them the animal, a British bulldog, was "not fulfilling the role of guard dog", Snr Const Edwards said.

The court heard the dog belonged to McManus' partner, who had owned the animal since it was a puppy.

McManus was remorseful and admitted there was no excuse for behaving that way towards the animal.

The couple were victims of a break and enter and she had been drinking excessively at the time of the offence, the court heard.

She had since consulted with a psychologist and McManus, who had no criminal history, did not expect to be before a court again, the court was told.

Magistrate Stephen Guttridge said animals, like children, were very vulnerable.

McManus was fined $750 and no conviction was recorded.

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