A man arrested yesterday for the attempted murder of a dog could face between three to twelve months behind bars if convicted. Guardia Civil environmental officers from Pola de Lena in Asturias arrested the man, who lives in the outlying village of Telledo, after a call from a member of the public received at around 4.30pm. They were told that the man had tied his bitch to his car and was dragging it behind him along the road.

The officers made their way to Telledo where they found a blood trail on the road surface which they followed for more than 2km to the suspect's car which they found parked outside his home.

When the suspect was finally tracked down, he told the arresting officers that the call had come from one of his brothers, and claimed that he had been working on his farm at the time.

The animal, a honey-coloured bitch cross, was found locked up in an outbuilding, lying prostrate on the floor and bleeding profusely from a number of open wounds.