An Alabama man brutally abused and killed a beloved Australian shepherd dog named Jack, confessing that he committed the crime because the animal had ventured onto his property. 

John Bannan, 53, was convicted on aggravated animal cruelty charges earlier this week after brutalizing the dog in Union Grove, Alabama, a small town of under 100 people. 

Bannan's trial uncovered horrific evidence of his actions against the dog in 2023, according to the Marshall County District Attorney's Office. 

Jack was an elderly Australian Shepherd and a well-loved dog in the community. Even Bannan himself had testified that Jack did not pose a threat to him or his livestock. 

However, when the dog wandered into Bannan's yard, he grabbed him by his fur and violently slammed him onto the pavement. 

Bannan senselessly beat Jack, which prosecutors said was captured on video. He then shot the dog and disposed of it's body. 

The Alabama man initially lied to investigators about the attack, but later admitted in court that he killed the dog because it was on his property. 

Assistant District Attorney Adam Culbert argued in court that a dog wandering onto your property does not justify its killing. 

'Mr. Bannan had any number of reasonable options available to him. He could have taken Jack home, called a neighbor, or simply let him go,' District Attorney Jennifer Bray said in a press release. 

'What he could not do was torture and kill a harmless dog simply because that dog wandered onto his property.' 

Bray added that animal cruelty cases matter and should be taken seriously, thanking prosecutors and investigators for seeking justice for the beloved dog and its family. 

Bannan was booked into the Marshall County Jail on October 12, 2023, and was released without bond a day later. 

The district attorney's office said the hearing would be scheduled for a later date. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the district attorney for more information on the case.