A Tauranga man has been prosecuted after he shot his neighbour's elderly dog in the rear end with a shotgun.

Logan Bragg was found guilty of ill-treating an animal in the Tauranga District Court on September 12. On Friday 21 September he was sentenced to pay $221.50 towards costs, and a payment to the family of $500 for emotional reparations.

The case began on 26 March 2017 when SPCA Inspectors received a complaint from the owner of an 8-year-old Boxer named Bourbon.

The owner reported that her neighbour had shot Bourbon while on his property two days prior.

Bourbon had walked through an open gate onto the defendant's property next door. The defendant then shot Bourbon in the rear end with a shotgun, says the SPCA.

When Bourbon returned home, his owner found him in a very distressed state, dragging a back leg and bleeding profusely from his rear end area. His owner immediately sought veterinary attention.

On clinical examination, Bourbon had numerous small entry hole wounds across his thighs, hips and tail consistent with being shot by a shotgun.

The wounds were painful to touch and Bourbon was exhibiting signs of shock due to blood loss.

Blood was dripping from both his anus and the tip of his penis, which indicated internal trauma, likely penetration of the rectal wall and possibly the bladder, says the SPCA.

This would have required surgery to repair. Bourbon was also at high risk of developing peritonitis.

Due to Bourbon's age, the nature and extent of his injuries and the risk of further complications, Bourbon's owner made the decision to have him humanely euthanised.

Not long after the incident occurred, the owner's husband had a voicemail message from the defendant. In the voicemail, the defendant stated the Bourbon had 'pissed on my furniture again”. He called Bourbon a 'little bugger” and described the weapon he used to shoot him.

He said he 'honestly wasn't sure what else to do, but to make sure he (Bourbon) wouldn't do it again.”

When interviewed by SPCA Inspectors, the defendant confirmed he had shot Bourbon on his property that day but claimed he had the right to because Bourbon had charged at him in an aggressive matter.

The defendant explained the inconsistencies of this account to the voicemail message were due to adrenaline from the encounter and denied shooting Bourbon because he had urinated on his furniture.

The defendant's claims were dismissed by the judge, who noted that Bourbon was elderly, had a gentle disposition, had recently suffered a broken leg and had damaged paw pads which restricted his movement.

'SPCA is pleased that this sentence includes payment of emotional reparations to Bourbon's family, who were distraught at what their beloved family pet went through," says SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen.

'It is unacceptable to inflict this level of suffering on an elderly animal simply because they walk onto your property. The defendant should have spoken with his neighbours about Bourbon's behaviour rather than resorting to violence,”