A West Australian couple has been banned from owning pets for two years after cutting part of their dog's tail off as a form of punishment.
The 27-year-old man and 20-year-old woman pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges over the February incident in Katanning Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
RSPCA WA said the pair cut off a section of the dog's tail after he reportedly bit a kitten.
An inspector visited the home in February and found the one-year-old mixed-breed, Baw, with injuries to his tail.
The dog was seized and examined by two veterinarians who determined the animal had suffered a traumatic tail amputation that had cut through vertebrae.
The RSPCA vet said an axe, hedge trimmers or secateurs would have been needed to create that kind of injury.
The man was sentenced to eight months and 14 days prison, suspended for 12 months, while the woman was given a 12-month community-based order.
They were ordered to pay treatment and court costs of more than $600.
RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green said it was a concerning case.
"It’s hard to imagine anyone thinking that cutting off their dog's tail was an appropriate and effective way to teach him how to act around a kitten," she said.
"This act was cruel, plain and simple, and it’s horrible to think how much pain Baw would have suffered."
Baw is recovering in the care of the RSPCA.
