No jail time after dog left to die and lies to police

Drunk and confused, Nathan Paul McKeown forgot where he parked his car, which contained his “best friend” German shepherd Arnie.

McKeown, 43, told his wife the car had been stolen, prompting a massive police search and a national appeal for information.

More than a week later, seven-year-old Arnie was found dead in McKeown’s womb after a neighbor complained about the smell.

Months after appearing on television and radio to find Arnie, McKeown avoided jail due to a “snowball” of lies.

McKeown ran away from the media and into a police station before entering Cleveland Magistrates’ Court in Brisbane’s south-east on Thursday under police escort.

Security had searched the court building for explosives due to the intensity of death threats McKeown had received since his arrest.

As well as unlawfully killing his dog, he pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing police by directing them to conduct a fruitless search for the uterus.

McKeown’s calls for information on national television led to Arnie sightings and a social media campaign that reached millions of views.

Judge Deborah Vasta told McKeown after his arrest that he was “public enemy No. 1”.

“The public felt betrayed, they felt that perhaps you were manipulating or exploiting their feelings for your own benefit,” he said.

“I take the public condemnation into account, and much of it is justified.”

Defense lawyer Patrick Quinn said his client had received “vile” death threats via social media.

“They want him to die, to be gassed, to be beaten. He was actually hiding,” he said.

The police prosecutor said McKeown’s offending was unusual and extreme.

“He left Arnie in the car without food, water and ventilation,” the prosecutor said.

McKeown also pleaded guilty to driving without a license and driving under the influence.

The prosecutor said McKeown was caught on CCTV letting Arnie go to the toilet in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley on the evening of November 7.

“McKeown appeared to be severely impaired by alcohol. He was unstable,” the prosecutor said.

Ms Vasta heard McKeown did not return and instead visited various venues, pubs, service stations and fast food outlets until the early hours of November 8.

McKeown couldn’t remember where he parked and told his wife his car had been stolen, who reported it to the police.

“He grossly misled police and the public in finding the Ute. He perpetuated the false narrative in the national media,” the prosecutor said.

Ms Vasta heard the amount of police resources expended following the search and sighting of Arnie was enormous.

On November 17, a resident smelled a foul odor coming from McKeown’s plumbing, and police found Arnie in an advanced state of decomposition.

Ms Vasta heard McKeown should not face a prison sentence because he had no previous criminal record, had attended drug and alcohol rehabilitation and was deeply remorseful.

“This is a perfect example of how the cover-up is worse than the actual crimes,” Mr Quinn said.

Ms Vasta heard that McKeown had owned and trained Arnie since he was a nine-week-old puppy and took the dog with him everywhere.

“This was a classic snowball that kept getting bigger and bigger… and you didn’t have the courage,” Ms Vasta said.

“Your actions killed your dog. Your best friend.”

Miss Vasta told McKeown that if he had deliberately killed Arnie he would have been imprisoned.

Instead he received a maximum of 240 hours of community service and was banned from driving for eight months.

“When people Google you, your past will travel with you. I won’t record the conviction. That would make things worse.”

McKeown declined to comment as he left court.