Man kills puppy with hammer

London, May 4 (IANS) A man in Britain, furious after finding his eight-year-old daughter bitten by his pet dog, battered it to death with a hammer.

Gary Wills, 47, waited seven hours before deciding to kill his puppy -- a Jack Russell -- himself rather than going to a vet. The dog died in agony from a broken skull after being clubbed "several times", the court heard.

A father of four, Wills admitted before the court that he failed to ensure an animal's welfare and told investigators he "lost it" when the pet left his eight-year-old daughter "covered in blood", The Sun reported.

His daughter was playing with the puppy at home in Devon county at night when it bit her when she tried to kiss it.

At hospital, she received eight stitches before being brought back to home.

Wills' defence said the girl is scarred for life.

But the court gave Wills a 12-month community order and banned him from keeping dogs for his "cruel and inappropriate" action.