THE North-East's reputation for animal cruelty sank to a new low as two dog owners were jailed for causing horrendous injuries to their pets.

A 55-year-old mother was jailed for four months yesterday after trying to drown a puppy in boiling water.

At a hearing in Sunderland, a magistrate was reduced to tears as she heard how a ten-week old puppy lingered in agony for a week after Lynda Cairns tried to kill the unwanted pet.

Clive McKeag, prosecuting, said that, when it came to animal cruelty, "this case is as bad as it gets".

Cairns, 55, of Kidderminster Road in Sunderland, wept as she was led handcuffed from court after admitting cruelty and abandoning a puppy named Ruby.

Cairns' son, David, 21, admitted abandoning the still living puppy, and her daughter, Lianne, 19, pleaded guilty to not seeking proper care and attention for Ruby.

Mr McKeag told the court Ruby's injured body had been found on waste ground.

Referring to photographs of the dead dog, he told magistrates: "You will find them gruesome."

As he outlined the condition of the dog, one of the female magistrates put her hand over her face as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Mr McKeag said Cairns had not told her son and daughter she had poured boiling water over the puppy. Both believed the injuries were caused by fights with its mother, Trixie.

Nigel Barnes, mitigating, said Trixie had ten puppies and homes had been found for all of them - but Ruby had been returned.

When fights broke out between Trixie and Ruby, Cairns wanted the puppy put down but the family could not afford to pay a vet.

David Cairns, he said, had been persuaded by his mother to abandon the dog. Lianne contacted an animal charity for help, but was told she would have to seek the help of an independent vet.

Cairns, said Mr Barnes, had medical and psychiatric problems.

Lianne Cairns was given a conditional discharge for two years, disqualified from keeping a dog for two years and must pay £525 costs.

David Cairns was given a two-year supervision order with 100 hours community service, was banned from keeping a dog for ten years and must pay £525 costs.

Lynda Cairns was jailed for four months and was banned from keeping a dog indefinitely.

l In a separate case, Gateshead Magistrates sentenced Geoffrey Carruthers, 65, of Dovedale Gardens, Beacon Lough, Gateshead, to four months in prison and banned him from keeping animals for life after his 14-year-old boxer dog, Amber, had to be put down.

Inspector Tony Jackman found the boxer with a severe back wound, which left the animal's tail hanging by a thread of tissue. Amber's wound had been left to fester for weeks.

Mr McKeag, who also prosecuted this case, said the injuries "beggared belief".

RSPCA Inspector Emma Ellis told The Northern Echo the jail sentences were "a salutary message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated".