Mr Thompson made a short court appearance at Newcastle Local Court before the matter was adjourned to May.

A large security contingent was on hand at the court house, with only media and some family members allowed in court during Mr Thompson's appearance. 

The Herald has reported Thompson, 25, was arrested by police and the RSPCA earlier this month after a  plea for public assistance resulted in an outpouring of emotion on social media.

Police say the bull terrier-cross puppies were first advertised for sale online by their owner Tony Brown last Thursday, March 5.

Almost a week later when they had not sold, Mr Brown asked Thompson to ‘‘get rid of them’’, but said he did not mean for him to kill them.

The puppies were loaded into Thompson’s car about 4.30pm on Wednesday, and he took them to bushland on McLeods Road, Kurri Kurri.

He began killing them with a rock, hitting them in the head and throwing them into the bush. A witness, out walking his own two dogs, confronted Thompson who drove off with five of the puppies still alive.

The RSPCA was called and inspector Scott Meyers arrived to find five dead puppies in the scrub, and two hanging on to life.  They were taken to the Rutherford RSPCA veterinary clinic but one died on the way.

Thompson has told police he later destroyed four of the five remaining puppies while the fifth was re-homed.

newcastleherald.com.au