A MAN from Chard has been banned from keeping animals for five years because a puppy’s leg had to be amputated after he stood on it, the RSPCA says.

Barry King, 33, of Silver Street, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his tan-and-white bull terrier and failing to carry out his duty as the person responsible for the animal’s welfare after not providing prompt veterinary treatment for the puppy’s broken leg.

The RSPCA says that Chichester Magistrates Court heard that King claimed to have stood on Bonzo, just 16 weeks old at the time, and broken his back leg.

During previous hearings, the court ruled this was not as the result of an accident, as King had initially claimed.

The RSPCA were called to the incident last January after a member of the public heard a man shouting and a puppy scream in pain.

They arrived at the address and found the puppy with an injured leg, before taking it to a vet who found the limb so badly broken it had to be amputated.

As well as being banned from keeping animals until further Order, King was ordered to pay £1,000 costs, an £80 victim surcharge and received a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

RSPCA inspector Andrew Kirby said: “We are pleased Mr King has been disqualified from keeping animals to protect the welfare of any others which may have fallen into his care.

“This poor puppy must have been in an incredible amount of pain as the vet found the limb was completely snapped at one end and there was no choice but to amputate. A member of the public said she was physically sick after hearing Bonzo screaming in absolute agony after the incident.

“We are pleased to say there has now been a happy ending for Bonzo, who was taken into RSPCA care and has now been re-homed.

“I am told he is surviving well on his three legs and leading a full, much happier life.”

The RSPCA can only investigate cases like this thanks to donations from the public. You can donate £3 by texting HERO to 60155 (texts cost £3 plus one standard network rate message).