Northern NSW man shoots puppy with longbow

A northern NSW man has been charged after allegedly using a longbow to fire arrows at an eight-month-old puppy named Bucket.

NSW Police said the 59-year-old man fired three arrows at the puppy, one of which hit the dog in the back of the neck.

Police were called to the property at South Golden Beach near the Queensland border on Friday morning.

Neighbours took Bucket to a vet, where he had to be euthanised.

The man was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station, where he was charged with aggravated animal cruelty and recklessly beating and seriously injuring an animal.

He was granted conditional bail and will appear in the Byron Bay Local Court on January 13.