William Kain Campbell, a 25-year-old process worker, indicated he would plead not guilty when he appeared in Porirua District Court facing 16 animal cruelty and theft charges.
Campbell was accused of stealing a 14-year-old ridgeback-cross, named Lincoln, to fight with his cross breed dog named Duke.
Lincoln suffered serious injuries after being mauled by pit-bulls.
The court registrar remanded Campbell on bail to reappear for a status hearing on July 1.
Campbell stood quietly in the dock as the registrar said that as part of his bail conditions, he was banned from possessing or having a dog under his control.
He was also ordered to report to police every Tuesday and was not allowed to contact the complainants.
After his appearance, media were left waiting for over an hour for him to leave the courthouse.
However, after police told him to leave the building, Campbell slipped past the photographers by changing into different clothes, including a hooded top, a pink cap and sunglasses.
His own clothes were worn by a female friend who pretended to be him when she emerged from the building once he was gone.
She then laughed as she revealed the ruse to the media.
The charges Campbell faced related to stealing a dog, animal fighting, not providing treatment for injuries suffered by the dogs and training a dog specifically for fighting.
