Gold Coast court: Jian Zhang pleads guilty to striking puppy with stick

A GOLD Coast man has been banned from owning a pet after he pleaded guilty to bashing his puppy with a stick. But you won’t believe the strange reason why he didn’t want footage of the horror attack shown in court. WARNING: CONFRONTING FOOTAGE

A GOLD Coast man has been banned from owning an animal for three years after pleading guilty to repeatedly hitting a puppy with a stick in his bathroom.

Jian Zhang, 28, appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court today after he was filmed on March 19 hitting his three-month-old samoyed puppy, named “Ka Ka”, 12 to 15 times as it yelped in fear.

Video captured of the attack. Zhang can be seen holding up the stick before striking the dog.

But the Broadbeach Waters man objected the footage being shown in court because he was only in his underpants.

Instead, the video was played to Magistrate John Costanzo on a laptop.

The stick Zhang used to beat Ka Ka with. Picture: RSPCA Queensland

Asked how he would like to plead, Zhang, a duty-free shop worker who has lived in Australia for seven years, told the court through a Mandarin interpreter: “I would like to plead guilty”.

The court heard the blows abused and terrified the dog causing it to “yelp and scream in fear”.

The dog’s yelps could be could in court.

Only the animal’s yelps and blows from the stick were heard in court.

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Prosecutor Bill Ness, for the RSPCA, said the offending was serious and involved prolonged and deliberate conduct.

Inside Zhang’s home. Picture: RSPCA Queensland

The court heard the cruelty was a breach of duty of care which would have long-term effects on the puppy’s development.

Zhang told the court his mother was “quite angry” with him and he had since moved from the home where the cruelty happened.

Jian Zhang, charged with animal cruelty, outside Southport Court. Photo: Nic McElroy

He said the puppy and another dog at the house, named Mo Mo, belonged primarily to his mother.

However, Mr Ness said he did not accept that Zhang’s mother was the primary owner because she was present during interviews where Zhang said he was the owner of the puppy.

Jian Zhang appeared in court this morning. Photo: Nic McElroy

Mr Ness also tendered an email from the previous owner of the dog stating Zhang had purchased it.

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The two puppies are now safe in foster care. Picture: RSPCA Queensland

Mr Costanzo ordered Zhang serve 12 months probation and pay legal and vet costs up to $8588.79.

He ordered the dogs be taken from Zhang and he must not own an animal for the next three years.

Outside court Zhang said, through a friend, he hit the dog to discipline the animal because it ate part of a bathroom mat.