Man stole neighbour's dog and dumped it miles away because it wouldn't stop barking

A businessman's wish for peace and quiet made him steal a constantly barking dog and dump it nearly 30 kilometres (18 miles) away. David John Belcher, from Manawatu, New Zealand, was at the end of his tether when he drove the dog from Colyton to Woodville, the Palmerston North District Court heard on Monday.

Belcher, 57, had pleaded not guilty to stealing the dog at an earlier appearance, but changed his plea on Monday. According to a police summary of facts, Belcher was at his shrub business in Colyton, Manawatu, on April 24 when he heard the dog barking at a neighbouring property. At 11am he went on to the property, unchained the dog and drove it to Woodville, which is on the other side of the Tararua and Ruahine ranges. He took the dog's collar off and dumped the dog.



A Tararua District Council animal control officer found the dog, and a test of its microchip revealed where it belonged. Belcher told police he had taken the dog because he was sick of it barking all day. Defence lawyer Marina Anderson said the dog had been barking all day, every day. Belcher's employees were getting frustrated and he called the council six times, she said. "He left messages, but got no response. He was fed up. He now knows he can ring the SPCA for things like this."

The dog was chained up in a small area and in obvious distress, Anderson said. Belcher told Judge Gregory Ross the dog was about 30 metres away from his business. "It is quite a mongrel, your honour." Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Whitmore said police may consider diversion, as Belcher had no convictions since 1998. A restorative justice conference could shed more light on the situation, he said. The judge did not enter a conviction and remanded Belcher until mid-August to see if restorative justice could take place.