Woman furious dog Storm was put down while in police's care

But the force has given a robust response, saying the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was put to sleep by a vet due to "medical need".

Angela Brook's eight-year-old pet Storm was seized by police after it bit a Vets4Pets worker in 2020.

At Bradford Magistrates Court on March 1 of this year, Ms Brook was accused of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog which caused injury.

However, the case was dismissed because no evidence was offered.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Storm

The incident occurred on November 10 when Storm bolted from Ms Brook's garden, near Five Lane Ends. She said a visitor had left the gate open.

After biting another dog, Ms Brook was told Storm had been taken to Vets4pets in Idle by a member of the public.

Ms Brook says she had been told once there the dog, who she had had since he was eight weeks old, escaped from a room and bit a member of staff.

The Vets4Pets worker's finger following the dog bite. Picture: West Yorkshire Police.

The dog owner is angry about the length of time Storm was held in the police kennels, a total of 17 months, and how she was not informed about his illness.

She said: "September 13, 2021, was the original court date. I turned up and they said there was an admin error.

"He ended up being in the kennels for a further six months. During that time, he apparently developed tumours on his shoulder and chest. Why did nobody tell me about this?

"When all the evidence was dropped, the prosecution wanted more time.

"Five weeks later, the police kennels rang and said, 'I am sorry to have to tell you that Storm developed tumours that were cancerous'.

"He had stopped eating and lost weight. I pleaded with them to return him to me."

Storm with Angela's other dog Skye.

On Tuesday, April 12, police told Ms Brook that Storm had taken a turn for the worse, so they had to put him down. This came 24 hours after she was informed he was ill.

Ms Brook, who has another dog called Skye, wants to know why it was not her choice if Storm got put down or not and is keen to see proof of his illness.

She added: "I want picture proof to show that he had these lumps. It should have been my decision if he got put down.

"He hadn’t seen me for 17 months, I just wanted him to know that I was there for him. What gives the police the right to put him down without my authority?

"I don’t understand why I couldn’t see him die. I just wanted to be there for him. It was my dog.

"The dogs are my life. To lose my dog like this is wrong."

The two dogs were Angela's life.

Along with sending a picture of the injury the Vets4pets worker suffered, a police spokesperson said: "Angela’s dog was seized as a result of it attacking another dog and the Vets4Pets incident.

"It was put to sleep by a vet due to a medical need."

The T&A contacted Vets4pets and the Crown Prosecution Service but did not receive a response.