Nathan Paul McKeown, a 43-year-old Queensland resident, has been sentenced to community service and a driving disqualification after pleading guilty in the Cleveland Magistrates Court to charges including the death of his German shepherd, Arnie, and obstructing police.
The charges stemmed from an incident where Mr. McKeown left his dog in a vehicle without proper care and subsequently fabricated a car theft report.
Incident Background
The incident began after Mr. McKeown left his home following a family argument. He drove around Brisbane on a Friday night, consuming alcohol and drugs at various venues. During this time, his dog, Arnie, remained in the enclosed canopy of his vehicle without access to food, water, or ventilation.
At approximately 10:45 PM, Mr. McKeown parked the vehicle on Amelia Street in Fortitude Valley. He briefly let Arnie out before returning the dog to the car. He then left the area, using rideshare services and taxis to continue visiting venues into the early hours of the morning.
False Theft Report and Investigation
Around midday on the following Saturday, Mr. McKeown contacted his wife, falsely claiming that Arnie and his vehicle had been stolen from a Wynnum address. Prosecutors stated this report was made to conceal his activities from the previous night. Police were subsequently contacted, initiating a search in November. Community members also became involved, assisting in the search for the reported missing pet.
Investigators later determined the theft report was fabricated, with Mr. McKeown admitting he had forgotten where he parked the car. During the period of deception, which continued for over a week, Mr. McKeown participated in national media interviews and offered a reward for Arnie's return.
Discovery and Cause of Death
Ten days after the car was abandoned, on November 17, residents reported a strong odor emanating from a parked vehicle. This led to the discovery of Arnie's deceased body inside.
A post-mortem examination, conducted by the University of Queensland, determined that Arnie's death was caused by dehydration and heat stress. The examination indicated the death likely occurred between 24 and 72 hours after the dog was left in the vehicle.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Mr. McKeown pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including:
- Wilfully and unlawfully killing, maiming, or wounding an animal
- Driving under the influence
- Driving without a license
- Obstructing police
In court, Magistrate Deborah Vasta acknowledged the public's sense of betrayal due to the false theft report, which had led to community involvement in a search. However, Ms. Vasta also considered the extensive public condemnation Mr. McKeown had faced, including death threats that resulted in his family going into hiding and his job loss.
Magistrate Vasta acknowledged the public's sense of betrayal but also considered the extensive public condemnation Mr. McKeown had faced, including death threats that resulted in his family going into hiding and his job loss.
Mr. McKeown's solicitor, Patrick Quinn, stated that his client did not intend to harm his dog but accepted responsibility for wilfully placing the animal in the vehicle and consuming drugs and alcohol. The court also heard that Mr. McKeown had entered rehabilitation in late December.
Mr. McKeown was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and disqualified from driving for eight months. No conviction was recorded for the offenses. Mr. McKeown did not provide comments outside of court.