A dog who was tortured by a group of teenagers in Thanet has helped hand in a petition to Westminster calling for tougher animal protection laws.

The puppy named Chunky was stolen, set on fire and dumped with a broken neck and leg in what was said to be one of the most disturbing cases of abuse RSPCA inspectors had ever seen.

More than 500,000 people have signed the document which says people who abuse animals should be banned from owning pets.

It came after four teenagers were banned from keeping animals for five years after pleading guilty to torturing the little dog.

Investigations revealed the chihuahua cross, who was less than a year old, had been stolen on February 23, 2015.

Three youths, two aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the offence, previously admitted kicking and punching the pet, before breaking his leg and neck, setting him on fire, feeding him drugs and dumping him at a rubbish tip believing him to be dead.

He was not found until the following evening by a passer-by at the rubbish tip in Manston Road, Margate.

After a miraculous recovery, the dog was returned to his owner and has now been taken to Westminster by his owners to hand in the petition.

In October of last year the teenagers pleaded guilty to ill-treating the animal and were all disqualified from keeping all animals for five years, given a referral order for 12 months and ordered to pay costs.

This sparked a number of online petitions to be created with the Justice For Chunky campaign gaining over half a million signatures.

At the time RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe said it was one of the most disturbing abuse cases she had ever seen.

Mrs Doe said: “This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with - by an absolute mile.

“They also said they set fire to his face and eyes after lighting a deodorant aerosol can..." Caroline Doe

“These youths admitted feeding him drugs, and kicking and punching him, and wringing and breaking his neck before dumping him.

“They also said they set fire to his face and eyes after lighting a deodorant aerosol can.

“The defendants may have been young and confessed to being under the influence of drugs but the cruelty they inflicted on this poor dog was extreme, barbaric and inexcusable.

“He must have suffered horrendously for hours as the senseless torture took place for the amusement of these boys.

“It is a miracle he survived.”