Neighbours of convicted dog killer Melvyn Hall have said he is "not welcome" on his estate after details of his crime emerged.
The 71-year-old after hitting defenceless Molly over the head with the weapon before dumping her body in the River Tyne.
But furious dog lovers living near his Wallsend home say they are "sickened" - and want him gone.
"I'd be worried if he went anywhere near my dog," claimed 56-year-old Karen Binks, whose family live close Hall's Ashfield Mews home.
"I wouldn't bring mine here now knowing what he's done, and he should have gone to jail."
Another dog owner, who recently moved near Hall, admitted: "If I'd known about it before I'd moved here, I'd maybe have thought twice."
They are among growing numbers of people demanding Hall be locked up.
Over 27,000 people have now penned a petition for "real justice" after his 18 week jail sentence was suspended, and that figure is rocketing by the day.
There was no answer at Hall's home on Tuesday.
The blinds were shut as one neighbour speculated he'd "gone into hiding" after his crimes were exposed.
"I haven't seen him for about a week. Someone comes to turn the lights on but that's about it," he claimed.
But he - like many other neighbours - were shocked to find out they had been living close to an animal killer.
"I'd read the story but hadn't clocked it was him. I'm speechless," claimed the man, who asked not to be identified.
"When I would speak to him, the dog would run out to greet you as dogs do," claimed the neighbour.
"She was a beautiful dog - she had a glow and her eyes would light up."
A court heard Hall carried out the killing because Molly was "getting on his nerves".
He hit her with the hammer, strangled her with a washing line before dumping the six-year-old in the Tyne.
Hall was snared when the RSPCA tracked him down via Molly's microchip.
The former NHS worker admitted two counts two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to Molly.
"He's not a nice man," added another local, who has now cut ties with Hall.
He, like several others, are worried Hall's actions could bring their estate to the attention of enraged animal rights activists - and has pleaded for them to back off.
"We are just as angry - he's got off so lightly," claimed the former associate.
"The law just isn't strong enough.
"He should face the consequences for an evil act - the man needs more than he's getting."
Besides his suspended sentence, he was ordered to pay £1,000 court costs.
Hall is now banned from keeping any animals - bar goldfish - for life.
But some on the estate just don't want to see his face again.
"I don't think he will be coming back - you do that to a dog, you deal with the consequences," claimed dog walker Lisa Jones.
"People will tell him 'you're not welcome around here' if they see him."
