AN investigation is being carried out into an allegation about the care of a dog at a police training school.

Animal welfare officers and police chiefs are looking into the complaint surrounding the treatment of an animal at Harperly Hall kennels, in Crook, County Durham.

The allegations, which are being vehemently denied by Durham Constabulary, centre on a sniffer dog which was left at the establishment while his handler went on holiday.

It is alleged that Bruno, a four-year-old short-haired pointer, had endured severe weight loss and was suffering from acute hepatitis when he was collected after a nine-day stay.

A vet's report obtained by The Northern Echo reveals Bruno needed intensive treatment.

The report says: "Bruno was indeed seriously ill and without prompt treatment, this could have had serious consequences".

While police chiefs accept the dog's condition deteriorated while he was in their care, they say it was not noticeable and the illness could have been contracted before he arrived.

They also said Bruno's weight often dropped when he stayed at the establishment because he was more used to living in a house and enjoying a different diet.

The Echo understands that the dog's handler, PC Gary Quigley, initially made a complaint to the force about the dog's condition, and has since contacted the RSPCA.

The animal charity last night confirmed that it was investigating the allegation, and Durham Police said they would co-operate fully with the inquiry.

Allegations of mistreatment and poor conditions at the kennels go back as far as 1998, but police chiefs said they were all investigated and none was substantiated.

Civilian kennel hand Julie Leadbeater, 45, left after four years and claimed constructive dismissal against Durham Constabulary.

It is understood she brought a number of issues surrounding animal treatment, conditions and supervision to the attention of Durham Constabulary and said they were not rectified.

But force chiefs said a meeting involving staff, supervisors and senior officers was held in November 2002 when they all agreed on a way forward and remedial measures were put in place.

Mrs Leadbeater reached an out-of-court settlement with the force, which means she cannot speak publicly about her complaint, but her husband, John, last night told how the stress of her job and the claim almost led to them splitting up.

PC Quigley would not talk about the case either when he was contacted by the Echo, but it is understood he is now at the centre of a disciplinary inquiry for refusing to hand Bruno back to the force after failing an annual licensing test earlier this year.

Bruno was finally taken from PC Quigley, and has since passed further tests. He is with the Prison Service, working as a drugs dog during searches of jail visitors.

Chief Superintendent Trevor Watson, head of personnel and training with Durham Constabulary, said: "A report has been prepared and submitted to the professional standards department at headquarters about the conduct of an officer involved in this affair.

"The professional standards department will determine if there has been any breach of discipline on the part of the officer.

"At the same time, we are planning to invite the RSPCA to conduct an independent investigation, which supports our policy of transparency in relation to everything we do.

"The RSPCA has, in the past, under our lay visitor scheme, carried out unannounced inspections of our kennels at Harperley Hall and also, similarly, they have arrived without appointment during exercises when dogs have been undergoing training.

"We obviously have a very good working relationship with the RSPCA and they have never raised any criticism of the kennels' standards of care or the treatment of the animals.

"At this stage, we firmly believe there has been no maltreatment or neglect of any dog within this force."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "We have received a complaint about an alleged incident of cruelty at Harperley Hall and we are working with the police to resolve this."