Kevin Hutcheon, 27, rained down blows with a 10-inch blade on five-year-old pet Rocco during the attack in a Montrose flat.
One deep wound slit the animal’s jugular vein and veterinary staff in the Angus town who saved the dog’s life were praised by the sheriff for their expert care.
Last month, a jury at Forfar Sheriff Court found Hutcheon guilty of stabbing the dog and possessing a knife in a public place.
Hutcheon appeared from custody for sentence, where Sheriff Kevin Veal said he would impose the maximum 12-month term available to the court.
But Hutcheon who has a string of convictions for serious offences will serve longer behind bars after also being handed a concurrent 21-month jail term for the knife possession charge on the indictment. Hutcheon was also banned from keeping a dog for six years.
During the five-day trial, Hutcheon claimed he stabbed Rocco out of necessity after its then owner issued a “kill” order to attack.
Hutcheon had been drinking earlier on the day of the August 9 incident at his own home in Montrose, before going to a flat in Victoria Street believing clothing and aftershave had been stolen from him.
He said he had stabbed Rocco after the dog bit his foot.
However, the dog's owner said her dog only bit him AFTER he had suddenly stabbed her dog.
The trial heard the dog was a friendly animal and “model patient”, despite being stabbed “within an inch of its life”.
Staff at the Golf Veterinary Practice said the Staffie would have died within an hour without emergency surgery.
(Evening Telegraph UK - December 14, 2013)
