A DOG owner has avoided prison after his pet chased a cat before mauling it to death.

Adam Day was walking his dog in the early hours of Thursday, August 10, 2023, when he attempted to readjust the lead and muzzle the canine was wearing.

When this happened, the dog saw a cat called Kookie and chased it before mauling the feline to death.

Day then left the scene without informing or attempting to inform or locate the cat’s owners to tell them what had happened.

READ MORE: Man appears in court after dog allegedly mauls Kookie the cat

On Wednesday, March 27, the 41-year-old, of Dunwood Close, Basingstoke, appeared at Winchester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He also admitted to failing to comply with an order made by Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court in May 30, last year, which ordered him to keep his dog under proper control.

The court heard that the dog had been under a dog control order at the time of the incident, with the judge, Adam Feest KC, saying that Day showed a 'deliberate disregard for the wellbeing of an animal'.

In sentencing, the judge said that the dog should be destroyed following the breach of the previous dog control order. Although no order was made to prevent Day from owning or looking after dogs in the future.

Day was sentenced to a 16-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days.