Mildura man sentenced for shooting neighbour's barking dog

John Green, a 59-year-old former supermarket owner, has been sentenced for shooting his neighbor's Maltese Shih tzu dog, Otis, with an air rifle. The court heard that Green had taken an air rifle from Mildura to Essendon with the intent to deter the frequent barking of the dogs. Otis, who was wounded three times, still has pellets lodged near his heart and requires ongoing monitoring.

Green, who ran a supermarket in Mildura for three decades before moving into retirement, pleaded guilty to wounding a dog, failing to store a long-arm weapon securely, and having a firearm with criminal intent. The court heard that Green's decision to use the air rifle was due to acute psychological distress, which overwhelmed his rational decision-making capacity.

Mr Green's wife, who is under ongoing stress due to her complex medical issues, had become a full-time carer for him. The court also considered Green's history of being a law-abiding citizen and his remorse over his actions. As a result, he was fined $5,000 without a conviction. Had he not pleaded guilty, Green would have faced four months in prison.