A DOG that went missing when its owner's home was burgled, turned up safe and well at an animal rescue centre.

But joy was mixed with anger and frustration for owner Martin Pratt as the centre had refused to let him register it missing in the first place.

And he was never told that his pet had been found on the same day of the burglary when a moped was stolen from his garden shed on July 2.

The mix-up occurred because Martin lives in Penwortham and Pippa, a Staffordshire bull terrier cross, turned up in Preston.

Martin tried to register Pippa missing with Preston council's dog warden service but was told they could not help because he lives outside of the borough.

But the wardens had already found Pippa and taken the animal to the RSPCA in Ribbleton. When he called there he was told they had no dog fitting Pippa's description.

He also reported it missing to the dog warden at South Ribble council and called the RSPCA's national helpline, all to no avail.

In desperation the father-of-three trawled the streets with homemade 'missing' posters featuring a description and photo of the family pet.

"I was frantic with worry," said Martin, "I had tried everything to get her back, my kids were devastated, and besides that, I had all the problems of the burglary to sort out."

It was on the off chance that he called into Ribbleton animal shelter with a poster. And that's where he found the 14-month-old dog and where it had been for the five days since it went missing.

Staff immediately recognised the cute pup, and Martin and Pippa were momentarily reunited. But Martin, of Lark Avenue, Penwortham, was told he had to pay a £77 dog warden fee to Preston council before he could get his pet back.

As it was Sunday, that meant another night for the distressed pup away from its family.

"Why was I asked to pay this money? I found Pippa off my own back," he said. "I can't believe there has been no communication between the national RSPCA and the local branch or between the different authorities," said Mr Pratt. "The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing."

An RSPCA spokesman said: "The law on stray dogs does state that the responsibility is with the local authority dog wardens.

"I'm sorry that this has upset Mr Pratt, but we have no record of him calling the centre."

Councillor Andy Campbell, executive member for environment and sustainability, said: "Our dog wardens don't kennel dogs if they don't have to, but the dog had no collar or identity microchip.

"We keep details of reports of lost dogs and liaise with South Ribble's dog wardens to share information about missing dogs but we deal with over 400 stray dogs a year."