A Hunter man has been charged following an investigation into an alleged act of animal cruelty.
Police will allege that a 37-year-old man saw heifers that were not his grazing on his property on Monday, December 23.
It's alleged he got into his vehicle and deliberately drove into one of them - breaking its leg - before slitting its throat and releasing his dogs.
The heifer's owner discovered the injured animal and was forced to euthanise it, police said.
The owner then reported the incident to Hunter Valley Police District officers.
Hunter Valley Rural Crime investigators began an investigation, with the help of Dungog police and local government authorities.
At about 2pm on Thursday, the 37-year-old man attended Gosford Police Station, where he was arrested and charged with torture, beat and seriously injure animal; torture, beat and cause prolonged suffering to animal; dog attack animal due to owner's reckless act, and two counts of fail to prevent dog from escaping.
He was given strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Dungog Local Court on Wednesday, March 11.
State rural crime coordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said this investigation highlighted the teamwork and coordination that was ever present between police, the Rural Crime Prevention Team, RSPCA, local government and Local Land Services.
"This is just one example of a great team coming together, sharing expertise and tackling animal cruelty head-on," he said.
"I would also like to remind the community they can report matters of animal cruelty to their local police, Crime Stoppers, the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League."
