An Angus man stabbed a bulldog in the neck and body following a neighbour dispute, a court heard.
Liam Wright, 21, from Arbroath, knifed one-year-old Pooch on February 14 after he called his neighbours “drug dealers” during a “heated” confrontation.
Wright appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted causing a breach of the peace, carrying a knife and stabbing the dog to the danger of its life during the incident in St Thomas Crescent.
The court was told the complainers, Richard Buick and Paige Sharp, were in their home at 11.30pm when they heard shouting and banging in the mutual coal store.
Mr Buick went outside and challenged Wright, who called the pair “drug dealers” and said he would “smash” them.
The pair got into an argument in the communal close before Ms Sharp opened her front door, allowing two dogs to escape.
Ms Smith said Wright went into his house, removed a knife with a five-inch blade from the kitchen and came back outside before stabbing Ms Sharpe’s bulldog.
At 11.45pm, police attended and Wright admitted to them: “I’m not going to lie, I took a knife to the dog.”
“Pooch was examined shortly after the incident by a vet,” said Ms Smith.
“The wounds were quite deep, with moderate to heavy bleeding from the neck wound, which was thought to be life-threatening.”
The dog was said to be making “a full recovery” and treatment cost about £500.
Wright, of Millgate Loan, appeared on a petition at Arbroath Sheriff Court on February 17 last year, where a written plea was rejected.
A plea was agreed on Wednesday.
Defending Wright, solicitor Lynne Sturrock did not contest forfeiture of the knife.
She said: “Mr Wright is a first offender and reports will be needed.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence to February 5 for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports.