FOUR suspected dangerous dogs have been seized as part of a police and council operation in Huddersfield today.

Officers from the Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), supported by the council Dog Warden visited three homes in Rawthorpe and Dalton this morning and seized the animals under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The four dogs had been suspected of being of a banned breed and were seized so that they could be taken away for specialist examination to determine their true breed.

Acting Inspector Chris Sheard of the Huddersfield North NPT said: "This morning's operation was the result of intelligence gathering work by the police and council in Rawthorpe and Dalton that lead us to believe that the dogs seized could be of a banned breed.

"The dogs have now been sent away for specialist examination so we are waiting on these results before we can consider any possible action against the dogs and their owners.

"What we want to stress is that the police and our partners take the issue of dangerous dogs very seriously and if we are concerned about possible banned breeds being kept in Kirklees, we are duty bound to take the appropriate action to find out if the dogs are."

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing with police appealing for anyone who suspects that a banned breed of dog is being kept in their community to contact the police via 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits four types of dog - the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Toser, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.