Pet pig suffers ‘bizarre’ act of cruelty, Aussie man fined $5000

An Australian man has been banned from ever owning another animal and convicted on a string of animal cruelty charges after being caught "biting and yelling" at his pet pig in a "bizarre" attempt to train it.

The WA man, 43, was fined $5000 and will never be allowed to own another pet after he was sentenced Wednesday for the acts of cruelty, which took place in 2021, described by a Magistrate as "torture".

'Bizarre' and 'cruel' acts lead to conviction

The court heard the man was trying it teach his pet pig, Pan, to dig and walk on a lead but after being unsatisfied with how the animal responded, he "punched him", shoved his nose into the ground, and pulled him along with a metal choker.

He also bit Pan's ear and choked the animal. Onlookers heard Pan squealing and trying to escape and filmed the ordeal taking place, which was later showed to the court.

'Ineffective' method of training also illegal

An RSPCA WA inspector who attended the 43-year-old's home said Pan showed signs of having been abused, which a subsequent vet examination confirmed.

The offender told the RSPCA inspector he bit the pig after the pig bit his own nose, which Magistrate Matthew Holgate described as a "bizarre" and cruel" stunt, which could "only be described as torture".

"[It was] completely unjustified, irrational and cruel course of conduct over a period of time," he said.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said not only had the offender chosen an ineffective way to train the animal, the acts were also highly illegal. "Pigs are highly intelligent animals who respond to rewards and kindness," she said. "The beating Pan took would have left him terrified and in pain – all from the person who was supposed to love and protect him."

Pan has since made a full recovery and has since been adopted.

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