Andrew Celona: Belmore man’s broad daylight attack on friend’s dog

A man who kicked a tired dog he was walking and smashed its head into the ground, told police officers he “had a bad day” and “probably lost it” during the brazen outburst.

A man who kicked a tired dog he was walking and smashed its head into the ground told police officers he “had a bad day” and “probably lost it” during the brazen attack. Shockingly, he was minding the dog for a friend who was away at the time.

Andrew Celona, 50, of Belmore, was walking three-year-old Black Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dasha around Abbotsford in May when he brazenly attacked, kicked, dragged and slammed the head of the tired dog into the ground in broad daylight after it had stopped during a walk.

Celona was convicted and sentenced for animal cruelty on Monday at Burwood Local Court to an 18-month community corrections order (CCO) and ordered to engage in anger management treatment.

Police facts of the incident state Celona angrily attacked the pup, who never barked or attacked back, when the dog paused for breath during an afternoon walk.

While walking Dasha around Abbotsford on a leash, the dog stopped and appeared tired. Three witnesses then saw Celona start to yell and swear aggressively at the dog.

Andrew Celona attacked the dog while walking in Abbotsford (generic image)

The dog, Dasha, was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, same to this one pictured.

Celona then pulled the dog forward by force, before he kicked it around the head and torso about 10 times.

Witnesses said they “heard thuds from the strikes” such was the power of each attack, and noted Dasha “appeared scared”, court documents revealed.

When the dog didn’t move, Celona then grabbed it by the neck and pushed it “forcefully into the ground many times”. He then held it by the neck and dragged the dog forward in the air with its back legs scraping against the floor.

Court documents showed the dog, frightened and scared, didn’t retaliate against Celona.

After witnesses called police, officers approached Celona, who admitted to the attacks and said “he would never do it again”.

“I was tired and having a bad day,” he told police officers at the scene.

“Too many times (I kicked the dog), I probably lost it – I’m not going to deny it.”

Court documents said Celona appeared remorseful and apologised to the dog, who he was minding while its owner was in Fiji for work.