Father-of-four allegedly shot his neighbour's dog with a spear gun
A dog that was beaten and then shot in the head with a spear gun has undergone surgery, but her injuries are so severe she may not survive.
Milly the three-year-old Labradoodle was viciously attacked because of her barking, allegedly by a man who lives next door.
Appearing in Gosford Court on Tuesday, Alistair Morgan tried to hide his face using his hands and T-shirt.
Mr Morgan's lawyer Ryan Finch claimed "something went wrong" with the father of four when the attack allegedly occurred.
"He's never been in trouble before," Mr Finch said.
"He's 45 years of age. I can't imagine it'll be easy for him."
Milly's owner Kim Lott, from Woy Woy on the NSW Central Coast, is still in shock.
"I just can't believe what's happened," she said. "Such a beautiful dog."
Milly was found barely alive in Mr Morgan's yard.
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Police allege that Mr Morgan broke into the grandmother's home to beat Milly and then threw her over a fence.
He is accused of climbing onto the roof of his shed before allegedly taking aim and shooting Milly with the speargun.
Police claim children were close by at the time and he has also been charged with disregarding their safety.
The Magistrate refused bail, saying "there is nothing that has changed in his vulnerability to pressure as when the offence was committed yesterday".
Kim Lott is also struggling - fearing the dog she calls her "protector" may never come home.