A Bunbury court has heard distressing details of how an elderly man shot his neighbour's dog and buried its body in a plastic bag.

Stanley J Clemons, 74, pleaded guilty in the Bunbury Magistrates Court to 16 charges relating to stealing, destruction of property, the unauthorised use of a firearm and failing to safely store a firearm.

WARNING: This story contains graphic content some readers may find this distressing.

He was given a suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine for shooting the dog, a three-year-old chihuahua named Pablo, and hiding the body.

Owners Ken Hopper and Alana Wright first contacted police in July, when Mr Hopper came home to find no dog, but a "pool of blood" and an empty bullet shell.

The court heard how police visited Clemons's South Bunbury home on many occasions

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