Ryan Morrison: Morrison Homes boss sprayed dog with paint
A construction business boss has been caught out spraying a dog in the face with paint. The 47-year-old, who is also a charity founder, now claims he is remorseful despite fleeing the scene and failing to return calls from police for five months.
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A charity founder and successful business owner sprayed a beloved family pet in the face with paint because the dog was “incessantly barking” next door to a construction site where he was working, a court heard.
Father of three Ryan Morrison, 47, of Castle Hill was found guilty in Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday over a charge of commit an act of cruelty upon an animal.
Morrison, founder of charity HCU (Homocystinuria) Network Australia and owner of Morrison Homes, was slapped with a $2000 fine.
Documents tendered in court reveal on March 7 Morrison was working at a property in Warrawee.
He went to his car and “retrieved a spray can” before walking towards Donald, a German short haired pointer.
He then pointed the spray can in the dog’s face and fired.
The dog recoiled in pain and Morrison fled the scene.
The dog’s owner found Donald several minutes later “with blue paint over his right eye”.
The incident was captured on CCTV which clearly shows Morrison spraying paint at the dog, the court heard.
Due to quick thinking by the dog owner, Donald’s eye was saved and he was treated at the vet, making a full recovery since the incident.
The owner confronted workers on the construction site but was unable to get hold of Morrison. It wasn’t until police attempted to contact Morrison numerous times, that he finally called them back five months later in August, court documents show.
When he spoke to police, Morrison said “it’s not cruelty as the paint was water based and would not hurt the dog”, court documents state.
But in court on Wednesday Morrison seemed to shift his view of the incident with his lawyer stating his client had “genuine remorse”.
“His references speak of a respectful and professional man. These actions on this particular day are out of character,” the lawyer said.
“His wife is a solicitor. He recognises more than most the significance of his actions.”
Morrison’s lawyer urged Magistrate Louise McManus to take into account his circumstances.
“He set up a charity six years ago. That involved a lot of time and expense.
“He’s a business owner and owns Morrison Homes. He has taken a downturn that many businesses have, he’s had to streamline operations. He’s working before and after court today.
“It was a very fleeting action, a spur of the moment reaction. There was no injury to the dog. It was frustration from the dog barking weeks and weeks on end.”
But Magistrate McManus wasn’t impressed and said this was an example of “true selfishness”.
She said: “He’s on a building site next to the house, making noise on the building site and he can’t put up with the dog barking?”
“There is an element or premeditation. He sprayed the dog, the dog was in pain. He walks away and doesn’t let the owner know. It’s awful, these matters are awful.
“There’s the cruelty to the dog and the poor owner of the dog. He can’t cope with the dog barking but doesn’t mind all the noise he’s making. I have to take references with a grain of salt. Where’s his remorse?”
The lawyer said his client had reassured him it wouldn’t “happen again”.
“You’re making noise so no wonder the dog is barking but somehow you’re the victim in this offence. I hope your view has changed,” Magistrate McManus said.
“When there is cruelty to an animal that can’t fight back, I’m appalled.”
According to court papers Mr Morrison was not convicted but has been ordered to pay the owner of the dog $140 in compensation for veterinary fees in addition to the $2000 fine.