A man who stabbed a neighbour’s dog three times with a kitchen knife said yesterday that the pet “launched” at him and he acted in self-defence.

Silo Sagote fatally stabbed Bullet when the dog tried to guard its pregnant owner during an argument in Redcliffe in January.

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

Sagote earlier pleaded guilty to causing an animal unnecessary harm and being armed in a way that may cause fear but after a brief appearance in the Perth Magistrates’ Court yesterday, he revealed he had applied to have his conviction overturned.

Speaking outside court after his planned sentencing hearing was adjourned because magistrate Richard Huston, who needed to hear the matter, was unwell, Sagote said he wanted to fight the allegations on the grounds he acted in self-defence.

“I’m guilty at the moment but I would love the chance to defend it,” he said.

“I’ve changed my plea. I came and submitted my form the other day to change it to not guilty.”

Camera Icon Silo Sagote. Credit: Michael Wilson

Sagote said he pleaded guilty because he was under the impression he would get a discount on his sentence for his plea and he “just wanted this matter over and done with”.

At his previous appearance, Mr Huston warned Sagote that the offences were serious and a jail term was “very much on the cards”.

Sagote said he was armed with knives at 2am because he had been cooking.

“The dog launched at me,” he said. “If you get injured, what’s going to happen to the dog? It’s going to get put down.

“I defended myself right there and then. Unfortunately, I had these two knives in my hand.”

Sagote said that he was sorry the dog died and was mourning the animal. “I’m the one carrying all the guilt at the moment but no one seems to understand what happened before all that escalated,” he said.

Sagote will appear in court again next month.