Rita Johnson had to hold back the tears as she was reunited with her second dog in a surprise celebration.

It was a fairy tale ending for the 60-year-old, of Thornton, Bradford, who was fighting for her life in hospital, when new owners were found to look after her prized dogs.

Miss Johnson said she felt ecstatic as she hugged nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier Benjamin at the Riva Bingo Club, in Tong Street, Bradford, last night.

She was reunited with her other 12-year-old terrier Tinie, last Friday.

Both dogs were brought on to the stage by Bradford Council's Dog Warden Manager Terry Singh, who has acted as a mediator for both of the dogs safe return.

Mr Singh said that both families who had looked after the dogs were very upset after parting with them but agreed they should go back to Rita.

The crowd openly wept as the two dogs - commonly known to Miss Johnson as 'my boys' were bought on stage to see her.

Miss Johnson said she was delighted by the outcome.

"I just want to thank everyone at the Telegraph & Argus, the bingo club and Terry for all their help. I am so grateful," she said.

"I don't need a hot water bottle anymore, my dogs will now sleep with me," she added.

Nick Windsor, general manager of Riva Bingo, said he was stunned by the generosity of members of the club.

"It's amazing what can be done when we all rally together."

Mike Craig, who spearheaded a £400 fundraising campaign to pay for replacement dogs for the concerned family, said he was "thrilled to bits".

The ordeal for Miss Johnson unfolded when she was admitted to hospital and returned home six months later to discover the dogs had been split up and placed with new families.

An investigation by the T&A tracked one of the animals to a home in Whitby. The other was found in Selby

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.