Manjimup man Ross Richmond Telfer jailed for stabbing pet puppy to death

A 34-year-old Manjimup man has been jailed for stabbing his five-month-old puppy and leaving it to suffer because it reminded him of a former partner. Ross Richmond Telfer was on Monday sentenced to three years and five months in jail and permanently banned from having any contact with animals after he plead guilty to being cruel to an animal at Bunbury Magistrate’s Court. The court was told Telfer attended his mother’s Manjimup home during the evening of April 3 after he had been escorted there by police following an altercation with his then-partner. During the visit, Telfer walked out to the rear of the property where he tied his five-month-old mastiff-cross-husky puppy named Mister to the base of a washing line with a short lead, then sharpened a 15cm serrated hunting knife. Telfer then attacked the helpless dog, striking him multiple times with the knife, causing his right foreleg to be severed at the carpal joint. The court was also told when Telfer’s mother ran to the scene after hearing Mister’s cries of pain, Telfer told her twice “I killed the dog” before dropping the knife to the ground, and causing her to retreat into the house. Telfer’s mother called police after being picked up by a neighbour who heard the commotion. When officers arrived, the puppy was still alive, but had to be euthanised later. Telfer was arrested the next day and admitted to the act, telling arresting officers “I don’t know what’s reality and what’s not reality”. During his court appearance, Telfer sat emotionless in the dock, as his lawyer Twistie Venning told the court his client suffered from “extreme distress” following the argument with his then-partner, thinking their relationship had ended. The court was told Telfer had previously been given advice to get rid of things that reminded him of a past relationship — and that Mister had reminded Telfer of his ex-partner, despite his mother having primary care of the pet. “As far as he was aware, Mister was dead,” he said. “He had no idea Mister had survived the attack.” Police prosecutor Sergeant Darren Clifton described the attack as “an act of pure evil on a helpless animal” and noted his history of violent offending. “Imagine the look on that dog’s face as the person who was supposed to love him inflicted such pain and suffering,” he said. “It is clear proof he’s not willing to change his propensity for violence and using weapons. “The community will be outraged and rightly so.” The court was also told Telfer’s offending breached a suspended prison term for previous offending where he wielded an axe and a pocket knife in front of terrified onlookers who tried to confront him after smashing a car window in 2018. He also brought a knife into Manjimup Magistrate’s Court and threatened self-harm after he was jailed for a driving offence in 2019. In sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin Tyers described Telfer’s offending as a “botched, backyard home-style execution” of a defenceless animal. “The fact that you did not ensure Mister was dead shows a callous disregard,” he said. “It was completely rudimentary, unacceptable and unnecessary, and it was done inhumanely. “You treated this dog in the most appalling manner.” Telfer’s jail term was backdated to April and will be eligible for parole in December 2022.