An arrest warrant has been issued for a man accused of stabbing his neighbour’s dog to death with a kitchen knife after he failed to show up to court on Monday.

Police allege Silo Sagote fatally stabbed the dog named Bullet as the animal allegedly tried to guard its pregnant owner during an argument in Redcliffe in January 2018.

Bullet spent a week in a veterinary clinic with stab wounds to his shoulder, torso and head before he died.

Mr Sagote earlier pleaded guilty to causing an animal unnecessary harm and being armed in a way that may cause fear but changed his plea to the animal cruelty charge when he appeared in Perth Magistrate’s Court in November.

He was due to face a one-day trial on Monday.