A man who stabbed a puppy to death after it killed his pet rabbit has been sentenced to five months home detention.

Andrew Salisbury flew into a rage and stabbed the dog three times while in the backyard of his Mairehau property.

During his sentencing this afternoon, Saliabury claimed he tried to put the dog down humanly by stabbing it in the heart but failed.

He also claimed he had permission from the owner to put the animal down.

However Judge Tony Couch told him he had grave difficulty placing any credence on that claim, considering the harrowing victim impact statement from the owner.