TWO teenagers who tried to drown a puppy before burying it alive were yesterday described as misguided, not savage.

The youngsters confessed to plunging four-month-old Jack Russell cross-bred Pip in a bath of water last December, but denied killing the defenceless animal.

They spent up to half an hour trying to drown the puppy believing it had an animal illness known as parvo.

They then buried it in a shallow grave in one of the boys' front garden.

Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court heard how teenagers then made a makeshift cross for the grave which defence solicitor, Clive Booth, said indicated "a degree of tenderness for the puppy".

Mr Booth said the boys only buried the puppy because they believed it to already be dead, and only realised it was still alive when it whimpered.

By this time a third boy arrived, he beat and stabbed the puppy with a pitch fork until it finally died.

He said: "These two defendants do appear to have been acting on a misguided basis rather than out of any wanton savagery."

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Christine Egerton said: "It is a fact that when the dog was buried it was alive but it is right that there is no evidence the boys knew that dog was alive when they buried it."

Magistrates adjourned the trial of the two boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, for pre-sentence reports, which are to be prepared on the basis that they are considering a training and detention order.

The pair will appear before Newton Aycliffe magistrates on July 28 .

The third boy, who confessed to beating and stabbing the dog to death, was sent to a young offenders' institution for four months at a hearing earlier this month.

He appeared before a judge at Teeside Crown Court last week to appeal against the sentence, but later withdrew his appeal.