A top Miami lawyer has been arrested for spraying two tiny dogs with pepper spray in a desperate attempt to stop them barking.

Terence Connor is a high-ranking partner in the Miami office of international giant Hunton & Williams. He practises employment law and has a proud pedigree in the field of civil rights. Unfortunately, it appears that his high regard for the human species does not carry through to man's best friend.

On 18 February, police were called to Connor's sprawling home in the seductively-named Coral Gables district of Miami following a complaint from his neighbour. She said she had witnessed Connor spraying her two dogs - Zeus and Louis - with pepper spray.

Fetch me the pepper spray

When confronted, Connor admitted the offence to the officers, explaining that the dogs were "constantly barking" and the police never did anything about it. You can read the full police report here, which includes much robust language from the distinguished lawyer, unprintable on a family website. It also reveals that Louis is a dachshund, and Zeus a maltese, both tiny little toy breeds. Terrifying.

Hunton & Williams wisely declined the opportunity to comment.