Man fined $5000 for killing puppy by putting her in plastic bag and dumping her in water

A MAN who admitted killing a 10-week-old puppy at a north Brisbane beach, has been fined $5000.

One of the surviving dogs found by the RSPCA with a broken leg.

A MAN has been fined $5000 and banned from keeping animals for five years after admitting to killing a 10-week-old puppy, putting her in a shopping bag and dumping her in water at a beach north of Brisbane.

Craig Ronald Whitney, 33, from Kippa-Ring, appeared in Redcliffe Magistrates Court today charged with one count of animal cruelty and two charges of failing to treat an animal.

The white Maremma sheepdog puppy, named Layla, was found washed up on the beach, inside a shopping bag, at Brighton, north of Brisbane, on November 30, 2017.

RSPCA investigations determined the puppy had been beaten, then thrown in the water.

Whitney initially denied any involvement in the pup’s death — claiming he had reported her missing.

As the evidence started to stack up, and the RSPCA found a dog with a broken leg in his backyard and a previous report against him for allegedly beating a dog with a cricket bat in 2013, Whitney changed his story.

He admited to killing and dumping Layla’s body.

Whitney told an RSPCA inspector that Layla had been looking sick so he took her to work with him on November 30, 2017.

He said the puppy was crying and he lost control — beating the dog with an open hand and pushing her into the car seat.

The RSPCA seized two other Maremma pups and two older dogs from Whitney’s home.

Whitney was also put on two years’ probation with no conviction recorded and ordered to pay costs including $12,228 for veterinary and boarding and $1100 legal costs.