Family forced to sell home after teen neighbour killed puppy

The owners of a 10-month-old puppy that was killed by their teenage neighbor had to sell their family home and move after feeling unsafe.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was accused in August of stealing the dog and intentionally mistreating it – by throwing it from a balcony and hitting it over the head with a metal crowbar and slitting its throat, causing its death , court documents seen by things show.

He then admitted the charges which Judge Gerard Lynch made things permission to report.

The teenager then appeared at a sentencing hearing in April, where the judge released him.

“Should a young man with significant deficits be substantively criminalized? In my view the answer is no,” Judge Lynch said in his sentencing remarks.

Police argued that given the seriousness of the crime, the consequences and the emotional harm caused to the victims, the least restrictive outcome was an injunction.

However, the young man’s lawyer presented the appropriate result is a clean record.

Judge Lynch said the issue was well balanced.

“The attack was brutal and shocking and but for [the young person’s] underlying psychological problems, this offense would require formal orders,” the judge said.

“Autism doesn’t give a young person an opportunity, but in this case it explains why [the young person] did something terrible. Unfortunately, we are a society that often looks to take the blame at home and make offenders pay.

“His letter explains why he did what he did. His letter of contrition is not exactly what is usually served up, honestly reflecting where the young man sits on the intellectual continuum.

“I’m not saying that to be mean [the young person] but to be clear, this is not a well-functioning young person where, if that young person has done something so bad, there will have to be very real and formal consequences,” Judge Lynch said.

For Rebecca*, the puppy’s owner, she said it had a big impact on her family.

“We had to sell our house and move somewhere else…we are so broke. It really seems unfair.”

She sympathized with the teenager’s autism and ADHD, but hoped nothing else would happen in the community.

“It’s a shame this had to happen for him to get help.”

Last August, the family noticed their 10-month-old puppy was missing, prompting a search of the neighborhood.

Three days later, the teenager’s father told Rebecca and her partner that his son had confessed to killing their puppy, she previously said things.

“He was really upset and we felt really bad for him,” she said.

“We were very understanding, but [the teenager] was arrested on Monday and then bailed to the house, which I was totally incredulous about.”

They were concerned about their safety.

“This has been deeply traumatic for our family. Our primary concern is our continued safety. [The teenager] killed our beautiful, fluffy, friendly little puppy completely unprovoked.

“We are extremely shocked that this has happened and turned our world upside down. We no longer feel safe in our home.”

In December, just before Christmas, he returned to his family home and Rebecca and her family made the decision to leave.

They are about to move to a new home with a new puppy.

*Rebecca is not the family member’s real name.