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A woman said her dog was mistaken as a "dangerous breed" and put into a kennel before she was returned to her "with bones sticking out."

Jodie Cook, 24, from Runcorn, was left feeling distraught when her pit bull Lola was taken away from her earlier this month, after an anonymous caller rang Cheshire Police and reported her as being a dangerous breed.

Jodie, who has had Lola since the dog was five weeks old and describes her as "just a big puppy", was forced to wait while her pet was taken away by a police officer and put into a kennel until a court could determine whether she was safe to keep as a family pet.

(Image: Jodie Cook)

During the court date in Warrington in February, the claims Lola was a dangerous breed were found to be untrue.

According to Jodie, the dog was kept at the kennels for four weeks in total, while she waited for a certificate to be sent to her to confirm Lola was safe to come home.

Despite being reassured that Lola would be well looked after in the kennels, Jodie claims she returned home on Monday, February 24, "like a bag of bones".

(Image: Jodie Cook)

Jodie told the ECHO: "She was petrified when she came back, she was so scared.

"She's literally like a bag of bones.

"All of her leg joints and her ribs are sticking out.

"It's animal cruelty, she's been neglected.

"They told me she'll go to a secure kennel and she'll be well looked after but they've brought her back like this."

Photos of Lola taken by Jodie on Monday and shared with the ECHO, show her spine and rib cage clearly visible through her fur.

(Image: Jodie Cook)

Jodie added: "Someone's rung the police anonymously and reported me for having a dangerous dog breed.

(Image: Jodie Cook)

"I've had her since she was five weeks old and she's been around my children who are both under three.

"She's just a big puppy.

"I'm trying to find out at the moment where she was held. I'm going to take it further."

(Image: Jodie Cook)

A spokesperson, for Cheshire Police, said: "Cheshire Police received information from a member of the public that there was an illegal pitbull at an address in Runcorn.

"The dog was assessed and was confirmed as a pitbull.

"However as it was not believed to be a danger to the public we worked with the owner through the civil courts for her to be able to lawfully keep the dog as a family pet.

"We recognise the owner's concerns following her stay in the private kennels. However during this short time she was checked by vets and by the legislation officer and no concerns were raised.

"The dog was returned to the owner as soon as possible. We’ll be contacting the owner to provide her with some reassurance."