A binman has been sacked after he was caught dragging an injured dog across a road before throwing the terrified animal in the back of his rubbish truck to be crushed alive.

Jadson James Franca, 35, mounted the pavement of the street in Presidente Figueiredo, northern Brazil and hit the stray dog, according to shocked residents.

The council binman then stopped the garbage truck and tied a chain around the neck of the whimpering animal, which had had both of its legs broken.

As his colleagues looked on, Franca then dragged the frightened dog along the pavement before tossing it into the compacting mechanism of the collection vehicle.

The stray dog was hit by the truck driver after he mounted the curb in Presidente Figueiredo, north Brazil

Colleagues then stood by as the binman attached a chain to the dog's neck

He was then seen dragging the animal into the back of the truck and inside its compacting mechanism

Images of the atrocity caused indignation after they were posted online by a local photographer.

The animal was reportedly still alive when the truck later arrived at the town's rubbish dump on Thursday evening but died of its serious injuries several hours later.

Brazilian TV presenter Xuxa, who once dated football legend Pele, also posted the shocking photos to her 4.4million Facebook followers.

She wrote: 'This little dog, who wasn't bothering anyone, had its legs broken, and in agony was tied up and dragged by the neck, before being brutally murdered by this individual, being thrown and crushed alive in the back of the garbage truck.

'This monster can still appeal against a fine and will still be walking the streets in freedom! Are we going to let that happen?? Let's do something?? Together we can. '

Yesterday Presidente Figueiredo's mayor, Neilson da Cruz, told Brazil's A Critica newspaper that the binman had been sacked and the refuse collection company, ViaLimpa, would face an unspecified fine.

Images of the atrocity caused indignation after they were posted online by a local photographer

Mr da Cruz also criticised the attitude of those who had filmed the atrocity yet not acted to prevent it.

He said: ' These people are more preoccupied with making recordings that with saving the animals. This is an absurdity. '

Franca has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and bailed, according to police chief Valnei Silva.