<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drunk and stoned, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/owner-of-arnie-the-german-shepherd-hit-with-more-charges-after-police-alleged-his-ute-was-never-stolen/41e537aa-048b-41ee-b5c4-117500cad9a2" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nathan Paul McKeown"><span>Nathan Paul McKeown</span></a><span> forgot where he had parked his ute containing his "best friend", Arnie the German shepherd.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown, 43, told his wife the car had been stolen, launching a massive police search and a national appeal for information.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than a week later, seven-year-old </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/owner-charged-after-ute-with-dog-dead-inside-found-on-street-queensland/1532d732-7402-48d7-a35d-bb183d84e7ca" rel="" target="_blank" title="Arnie was found dead inside McKeown's ute"><span>Arnie was found dead inside McKeown's ute</span></a><span> after a neighbour complained about the smell.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-has-worlds-most-expensive-high-schools-new-research-shows/55a327ab-9cce-4935-9ac2-d58f5a67eb87" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Australia named 'most expensive' country for high school costs</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Months after appearing on TV and radio asking for help to find Arnie, McKeown was spared jail after his "snowball" of lies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown ran from media into a police station before entering nearby Cleveland Magistrates Court, south-east of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="_blank" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span>, under police escort today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Security had searched the court building for explosive devices due to the volume of death threats McKeown had received since his arrest.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/brisbane-court-nathan-paul-mckeown-who-killed-his-dog-and-then-lied-to-the-media-dodges-jail-time/1b1861c7-bd03-4c72-a486-51774c6592ea" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully killing his dog as well as obstructing police by leading them on a fruitless search for his ute.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown's national TV appeals for information sparked Arnie sightings and a social media campaign that amassed millions of views.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Magistrate Deborah Vasta told McKeown he had been "public enemy No.1" after his arrest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Members of the public felt betrayed, they felt you perhaps manipulated or exploited their emotions for your own benefit," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I take into account public condemnation and much of it is justified."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence solicitor Patrick Quinn said his client had received "vile" death threats via social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They call for his death, his gassing, for him to be beaten. He has essentially been in hiding," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown's offending was unusual and extreme, the police prosecutor said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He left Arnie in the car with no food, water or ventilation," the prosecutor said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown also pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving and driving under the influence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prosecutor said McKeown was captured on CCTV letting Arnie out of the ute to go to the toilet on the evening of November 7 in inner Brisbane's Fortitude Valley.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"McKeown appeared heavily affected by alcohol. He was unsteady," the prosecutor said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-submarines-could-not-be-sold-to-australia-new-us-congressional-report/6d2b3916-ffc7-4a82-bacc-3d50c114c9b5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>US politicians hear option of not selling Australia nuclear submarines</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vasta heard McKeown did not return and instead visited several venues, bars, service stations and fast food outlets until the early hours of November 8.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown could not remember where he parked and told his wife his ute had been stolen, which she reported to police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On a large scale he misdirected police and the public to find the ute. He persisted with the false narrative in national media," the prosecutor said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The amount of police resources wasted in the search and chasing sightings of Arnie was large, Vasta heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A resident smelled a foul odour coming from McKeown's utility on November 17 and police found Arnie in an advanced state of decomposition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown should not face prison time as he had no prior criminal record, had checked in to drug and alcohol rehabilitation and was deeply remorseful, Vasta heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a perfect example of the cover-up being worse than the original offences," Quinn said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown had owned and trained Arnie since he was a nine-week-old puppy and took the dog with him everywhere, Vasta heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was a classic snowball that got bigger and bigger...and you didn't have the guts," Vasta said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Your actions killed your dog. Your best friend."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Vasta told McKeown he would have been jailed if he had deliberately killed Arnie.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead he received the maximum 240 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving for eight months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Your past is going to travel with you when people google you. I'm not going to record conviction. That would make things worse."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McKeown declined to comment as he left court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>