Tyler Jay Halliday pleads guilty to attacking his former girlfriend’s dog for digging a hole at Blacks Beach

The former Mackay pet store worker put Sprocket into a “punishment” pen for three hours and slapped, kicked and spat at him as the dog was cowering in a corner.

A magistrate has indicated a former pet store worker should be made to shovel animal faeces after he unleashed a “disgusting” attack on a terrified, cowering dog.

Tyler Jay Halliday had Sprocket backed into a corner of a “punishment” pen and threatened the scared dog with his fist before kicking and spitting at the animal at Blacks Beach.

Why? Because Sprocket, who belonged to his former girlfriend, had dug a hole.

Before this shocking incident, the 22 year old had worked for Petbarn Mackay as a sales assistant.

When Magistrate James Morton asked why his employment ended after 10 months, Halliday said, “It’s quite obvious that I’m not suitable for a job with animals.”

Tyler Jay Halliday leaves Mackay Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to hitting, kicking and spitting on his former girlfriend's dog in a "disgusting" attack. Photo: Janessa Ekert

Two videos capturing his vile conduct were played as Halliday sat, self-represented, in Mackay Magistrates Court.

The clips show Halliday standing over Sprocket who is cowering in a corner as he threatened the dog with his fist.

Halliday then kicked Sprocket in the face.

The court heard Halliday put Sprocket, who belonged to his former partner, in a “punishment corner” – which was an enclosed area of the yard – for about three hours.

“The dog is clearly fearful … cowering in the corner,” Barrister Stephen Byrne, for RSPCA, told the court.

“(He) approaches the dog again, forms a fist in front of the dog’s face and ultimately slaps the dog with an open hand.

“Before leaving he spat at the dog.”

Halliday returned to the enclosure a second time and threw an object at Sprocket – it hit the fence.

“He was angry at the dog for digging a hole,” Mr Byrne said.

“He said that his behaviour was disgusting, that the dog was absolutely terrified.”

Halliday pleaded guilty to breaching his duty of care, which occurred on April 17, 2020 – a charge of animal cruelty was dropped.

Tyler Jay Halliday tried to hide his face as he left Mackay Magistrates Court. Photo: Janessa Ekert

When Mr Byrne pushed for community service or probation, Magistrate James Morton asked if there were “any community service orders shovelling faeces down at the RSPCA”.

The court heard Halliday was currently unemployed and living with a family friend.

“Tell me why you exacted some punishment that you saw fit over poor old Sprocket?” Mr Morton asked.

“He did nothing wrong … he dug a hole,” Halliday said, adding the dog had access to food and water.

“What grade did you go to at school?” Mr Morton asked.

The court heard he went to Year 10, which he did not pass.

“So when you didn’t pass, did you get put into a naughty corner … and did you get slapped across the earhole and did you get kicked in the face … and spat on?” Mr Morton asked.

“No sir,” Halliday said.

“You didn’t, well that’s good because if that had happened there’d have been sanctions,” Mr Morton said.

When Mr Morton asked where Halliday got this sense of “commander and control”, he said he had not been in a good headspace at the time, but accepted that was no excuse.

“I’m disgusted by myself,” Halliday said.

Mr Morton labelled the videos as disturbing and said his conduct was totally out of line.

“It’s not even your dog,” Mr Morton said, later adding he had even considered jail as a punishment.

Halliday apologised to everyone involved for his behaviour and said he had sought help for mental health issues.

Instead Halliday must complete 100 hours of unpaid community service within six months and he was banned from owning any animal for five years.

A conviction was not recorded and he was ordered to pay $1603.60 in legal costs and $164.35 in vet costs.

Originally published as Tyler Jay Halliday pleads guilty to attacking his former girlfriend’s dog for digging a hole at Blacks Beach