Man To Face Court Accused Of Animal Cruelty And Drink Driving At Port Stephens

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court next week charged with animal cruelty and mid range drink driving at Port Stephens.

Police spoke with the 49-year-old on Nelson Bay Road at Salt Ash on Sunday afternoon, where a search of his car allegedly uncovered two firearms and two dogs.

They say the dogs were suffering from heat stress, with the officers giving them water before releasing them into the care of a local resident.

They subjected the man to a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a reading of 0.127.

He's been charged with animal cruelty, firearm, traffic and drink driving offences and given strict conditional bail to face Raymond Terrace Court on Monday January 13.

Oakvale Chook Thrower Sentenced For Animal Cruelty

 BY IAN CROUCH

A Singleton grandfather who threw a live chicken into an alligator enclosure at Oakvale Wildlife Park in January has been sentenced in Raymond Terrace Court.

Footage shows 58-year-old Peter Smith placing the silkie bantam chicken known as Betty White inside his buttoned up shirt before walking over to the enclosure and tossing it into the pond in front of horrified onlookers.

One of two alligators inside the enclosure then snapped the hen in its mouth, killing it instantly.

Mr Smith pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated animal cruelty, with the magistrate saying there was a degree of sadism involved.

He's been sentenced to 9 months gaol to be served in the community and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. 

Peter Smith has been sentenced to 9 months gaol for animal cruelty to be served in the community

Police Seeking Witnesses To Alleged Animal Assault in Wallsend

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Newcastle police are appealing for assistance, as they investigate reports of an alleged act of animal cruelty in Wallsend.

They're looking for witnesses to an incident which allegedly occurred in a car park at about 10:00am on Thursday the 31st of August, 2023. 

Officers have been told a man was seen dragging a German Shepherd dog into his utility and then proceeded to assault it.

They're calling on anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. 

 

Kangaroos Deliberately Injured At Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for help to find those responsible for deliberately injuring three kangaroos at Muswellbrook.

Officers were called to Wollombi Park around 8.00am on Sunday where a bushwalker found the roos seriously injured in scrubland.

Police say initial inquiries suggest two of the roos may have been deliberately run over a by a vehicle while a third kangaroo, which was found deceased, had suffered a wound to the chest.

It's believed the other two roos have since died.

Investigators are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage in the area at the time to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.