John Charles Green, 59, a former supermarket owner from Mildura, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to wounding a dog in Essendon, Victoria. The Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court heard that on the morning of December 14, 2025, Mr Green fired an air rifle at least three times at a white Maltese Shih Tzu named Otis, injuring the dog in the hind leg, rib cage, and shoulder.

Mr Green, who ran PJs Foodworks supermarket in Mildura for three decades before retiring, and his wife own a unit in Essendon used during visits to Melbourne medical specialists. The neighbouring property had four dogs that frequently barked, which had been a source of ongoing distress for Mr Green.

According to defence lawyer Charles Morgan, Mr Green had been dealing with the issue of the barking dogs for months and had attempted to address it legally through the council's dog barking register. The court was also told that Mr Green had previously brought an air rifle from Mildura to Essendon intending to "ward off" the dogs if the barking continued.

Mr Green pleaded guilty to wounding a dog, failing to store a long-arm weapon securely, and being armed with a firearm with criminal intent. He was reportedly under heightened stress as a full-time carer for his wife, who has complex medical issues.

The incident has left the dog's owner feeling unsafe at their property. "Before this I felt safe at home, since the shooting I no longer feel safe at my property," they said.

Sources