A farmer has been jailed for stringing up and killing a working dog because it didn't round up his sheep properly.
Graham Thomas, 55, of Tredegar, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He was convicted after trial at Newport Magistrates' Court.
The court heard how Welsh border collie Prince had rope tied around his neck before being hoisted up into a tree and hanged. Witnesses had seen Thomas shouting and swearing at Prince shortly beforehand.
A vet told Magistrates that hanging would have caused Prince "great fear, distress and clear unnecessary suffering".
Thomas' account, which was rejected by the court, was that Prince had climbed the tree with rope around his neck and inadvertently hanged himself.
The cruel farmer was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment and banned from keeping dogs and sheep for life.
RSPCA inspector Emma Smith said: "This is such an unusual and disturbing case where a sheepdog was killed by his owner allegedly because he wouldn't round up his sheep properly.
"Prince would have suffered immensely which resulted sadly in his death. This deliberate cruelty is just so horrific to fathom. Following the incident his body was then removed by the defendant and burnt.
"It must have been extremely distressing for the witnesses to have seen this. We are very grateful to them for reporting it to us and assisting with our investigations."
The maximum sentence for an offence of this nature is 6 months imprisonment, which is woefully inadequate.
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