A FAMILY have hit out at council bosses after discovering their pet dog had been put down after escaping from their home when it was being burgled.

They were initially told that the ir dog Lennox was captured and was in kennels.

The Echo reported on Monday that the Rottweiler-cross had run off and was cornered in the Portland Road area of Weymouth.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, which jointly sanctioned the destruction of Lennox, said it had received numerous complaints about a ‘vicious dog’ and had worked with the police to capture it.

A decision was taken by police, the dog warden and the veterinary surgeon to put him down because of fears for public safety.

But the dog’s owners said that their dog was a ‘big softie’ who had been frightened and ran away after their house was burgled.

Sophie Johnston, 24, of Aragon Close, said Lennox, nicknamed Lenny Boy, a four-year-old Rottweiler cross had been brought up with her children Freya, six, and Khan, four.

She said: “He was a big softie. He was scared of the hoover and even our kittens used to bully him and throw him off his bed.”

Sophie and her partner James Maskery, 21, went to Bournemouth for the day on Saturday.

Sophie’s ex-partner Andy James, 23, went round to the house after a neighbour said he had seen the dog on the loose.

He said: “The front door was closed. I went round the back and called Lennox and tried to see if he was inside but he wasn’t. I walked back round to the front and the front door was open.

“I think I must have disturbed whoever was in there.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed that they had received a call about the burglary and the missing dog at 8pm on Saturday evening.

Lennox had been destroyed at about 6pm.

The family said they were angry that Lennox was put down so quickly without them being called.

Mr James, who said he made more than 40 calls to the council, said he was devastated by the news of Lennox’s death.

He said: “It feels like our hearts have been ripped out.”

Miss Johnston said: “He has got out before and we have called the dog warden as a precaution, so they have our number.

“He was micro chipped. They should have at least called us.”

She added: “I could understand the decision if he had got out and hurt someone, but he didn’t.”

The family said they are considering legal action against the council and will be talking to South Dorset MP Richard Drax.

• A SPOKESMAN for Dorset Police said: “We received the report of a burglary at 8pm on Saturday April 14.

“Between 1pm and 4pm the burglary took place on Aragon Close. A games console was taken.

“We were told that the front door was open and a dog was believed to have left at the time of the burglary.

“We would appeal for witnesses to call Dorset Police on 01305 222222.”