Farmer dragged dog through Somerset village behind his car

The court heard the dog was dragged along the road for almost a minute

A farmer who dragged his dog along the road while tied to the back of his car has received a 20-year animal ban.

Kim Rendall, 65, of Southover Road, was filmed dragging his nine-year-old husky dog, Daisy, through High Littleton, Somerset, on 17 April.

Bristol Magistrates' Court was told Rendall hid the dog after the incident and failed to get veterinary treatment.

The disqualification order, which cannot be appealed for 15 years, excludes livestock and fish.

WARNING: Article contains an image some may find upsetting.

The dog was eventually put to sleep because of the severity of her injuries.

Rendall, who admitted two animal welfare offences at a previous hearing, was also sentenced to 300 hours unpaid work, ordered to pay £5,000 costs and received an eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

Rendall was also sentenced to 300 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £5,000 costs

The court was told while several motorists had tried to alert Rendall, who was seen driving with Daisy tied to a rope being dragged along the road behind his car, he only stopped once being flagged down by a pedestrian.

Dashcam footage of the incident showed Daisy being dragged along the road for 55 seconds before being put into the back of the car by Rendall.

He then drove off and later refused to tell police, who turned up to do a welfare check, where she was.

One officer was heard on bodycam asking him "where is that dog?" numerous times but Rendall, who had been a farmer for more than 40 years and had no previous convictions, did not answer directly.

'Haunt me forever'

Daisy was later found in a nearby cow barn after a search involving police officers and a drone.

Despite emergency veterinary treatment, Daisy was put to sleep six days after the incident because of the severity of her injuries and to prevent further suffering.

The prosecution was then brought by the RSPCA charity.

"Daisy was in desperate need of veterinary treatment but Rendall repeatedly refused to tell police where he'd hidden her, instead choosing to leave her to suffer with severe injuries," said RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the charity.

"Ensuring animals are kept safe from injury while travelling in a vehicle and providing appropriate veterinary care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets.

"It's so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met," she added.

PC Natalie Cosgrove from Avon and Somerset Police, who supported the RSPCA investigation, said: "I was shocked by what I saw when I first saw Daisy.

"I felt physically sick that this lovely dog had been subjected to such cruelty, whether by mistake or not."

"This is one of the jobs which will haunt me forever," she added.