Pensioner Rita Johnson today told how her two beloved dogs were given new homes by Bradford Social Services as she battled for life in hospital.

Miss Johnson said it was the thought of coming home to her dogs that spurred her recovery from two brain haemorrhages and a massive heart attack.

And she said that the decision to give new homes to the Yorkshire Terriers called Benjamin and Tinie - she calls them "her boys" - was taken without her knowledge.

But Social Services said it had acted in the best interests of Miss Johnson and had exceeded its responsibilities by kennelling the dogs for longer than the 12 weeks it is required to under national guidelines.

Miss Johnson, 60, of Thornton, Bradford, has now pleaded with social services staff for their return.

They were taken away when she was admitted to St Luke's Hospital last May after collapsing in her neighbour's garden.

She says she was unconscious until September and she underwent three operations.

She returned to her home in November to discover the dogs had first gone to kennels and then been separated and given to two families in the Whitby area.

"I miss them so terribly," said Miss Johnson. "I brought Benjamin into the world and he is now about nine and Tinie is about 12. I haven't slept since I got home because they used to sleep with me and when I put my hand out they aren't there.

"At first a neighbour was looking after them, but she is 77 and has angina so I wouldn't expect her to have carried on.

"I can understand Social Services putting them in kennels while I was in hospital but I never gave permission for them to be separated and given to other families.

"It was the thought of coming home to my boys that pulled me through. When I told my social worker I wanted them back she said: 'Don't you think it will upset the families they have gone to?'. It's upsetting me. I think about them all the time. They have been my companions all these years."

A Social Services spokesman said its staff had acted in the best interests of Miss Johnson and her animals during her long stay in hospital.

"Miss Johnson and her family agreed that social services should take responsibility for all her home circumstances during her illness and after several months in kennels the decision was taken to find the dogs new homes. At this stage Miss Johnson was already extremely ill and we had already kennelled the dogs for far longer than the 12 weeks normally allowed under national guidelines.''

But Miss Johnson's sister Ann Mayhew says she was never told at any stage that the dogs would be found permanent new homes.

Mrs Mayhew, who lives in Felixstowe, Suffolk, said: "Social Services told me that they would have to take them out of kennels because it was costing them too much - but I assumed they would be found temporary accommodation and was never told any different. It was a miracle my sister survived and I'm sure it was the thought of returning home to her boys that helped pull her through.''

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