THE locking up of two teen-agers who half drowned a defenceless puppy before burying it alive was yesterday heralded as a triumph for animal welfare.

The youths, one aged 15 and the other 17, were each caged for three months as part of a six-month detention and training order for the assault.

The onslaught caused the 14-week-old Jack Russell-type cross breed up to two hours intense suffering.

The dog, called Pip, was later beaten to death with a pitchfork as it lay whimpering underground by a third boy who was locked up earlier this year on a four-month detention and training order.

RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer described it as the most heartrending case he has ever had to deal with.

But after the trial at Sedgefield Magistrates' Court yesterday, he expressed his delight that justice was seen to be done.

"What they did was barbaric," he said: "It upset me more than any other case. The fact that three lads did it and yet there was no remorse from them.

"They had a blas attitude about animal welfare."

He added: "I hope every day they are in there is the longest day they have, so they really think about what they have done.

"In three months' time they are going to walk away from this and yet the puppy will never walk again."

Both boys burst into tears and hugged their parents after the verdict was delivered. They were then led to the cells.

Their defence solicitor, Clive Booth, tried unsuccessfully to convince magistrates that they had shown great remorse for a crime which he said was not premeditated.

He claimed earlier in the trial that they had only tried to drown the puppy because they thought it was ill.

Magistrates refused a Press application to lift an automatic ban on naming the juveniles.

l The North-East's appalling animal cruelty record prompted The Northern Echo to launch its Animal Watch campaign earlier this year. It aims to stop animals being mistreated by encouraging people to report any cases of cruelty to the police or RSPCA