A man who attacked a dog in his care with a machete has been found guilty of three counts of animal cruelty.

A man who attacked a dog in his care with a machete has been found guilty of three counts of animal cruelty.

Michael Porter, of Fuller Road, Dagenham, hit Shar-Pei Sam with a pole and seriously injured him with a knife on September 14 last year.

He was witnessed carrying out the violent act at his home by a lodger who banged on the window to stop him.

Judge Gary Lucie told Romford magistrates’ court: “He [the witness] said you were saying you wanted to kill the dog because it had bitten you.”

Porter, 52, denied carrying out the assault and said he had punched the dog in self-defence after the canine had clamped on his arm. But the court heard yesterday how three thick black lacerations found near the dog’s jaw were consistent with knife injuries, not punches.

“I am sure that you were holding the knife at the time and I’m of the view that must have caused the injuries,” said Judge Lucie.

“To suggest that this was all a figment of the witness’s imagination is an explanation which is simply not credible.”

Porter, who was looking after the dog for a two-week period, was found guilty of causing and failing to prevent unnecessary suffering of an animal. He was also found guilty of not ensuring the welfare of the pet, who put on 2kg in just 13 days when he was taken to kennels after his ordeal.

Prior to the trial, Porter pleaded guilty to a fourth charge of not ensuring his own pet Candy’s welfare. He failed to take the female border collie to a vet, despite the fact she was clearly in pain and was found to have several tumours.

Porter will appear for sentencing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on April 27.