A KENNELS in Huddersfield is at the centre of fears over a killer disease.

Wayne Thackray, of Crosland Moor, has criticised Marina Kennels after his pet rottweiler, Scooby, died on January 14 of the deadly parvo virus.

But experts have given the kennels, off Leeds Road at Deighton, a clean bill of health.

Scooby was taken to Marina Kennels on January 2 after escaping from Mr Thackray's garden on Thornleigh Road.

About 10 days later the dog became ill and looked dull, dehydrated and depressed. He was sick several times and had severe diarrhoea.

His condition took a drastic turn for the worse and Scooby was put in intensive care at a vets, where he died.

Mr Thackray said he was told Scooby had died of canine parvo virus, which was most likely contracted at the kennels.

Scooby had been taken to Marina Kennels after a police officer found him on Tom Lane within 20 minutes of him getting out of Mr Thackray's garden.

Mr Thackray and his wife, Tanya, had not even noticed his disappearance by then.

Although Scooby had an identity microchip and a collar he was taken to Marina Kennels as a stray.

Mr Thackray called the police to report him missing and was told he could collect him from the kennels.

When he arrived at the Peace Pit Lane premises the next day he said he was unhappy with the cleanliness.

Mr Thackray , who runs a health and safety firm, said: "Scooby was sitting in half an inch of his own urine. It runs into a central channel, which people walk through.

"His faeces was in there, too. They are both ways of transmitting disease.

"There was a sign saying use the footbath to prevent kennel cough, but there hardly seemed to be disinfectant in it.

"They don't even seem to do a health check when the dogs arrive."

Mr Thackray criticised Kirklees Council, which licenses the kennels, and West Yorkshire Police for allowing dogs to be taken there.

He said: "Kirklees and the police are allowing healthy dogs to be taken into an environment in which they can pick up this disease.

"Once parvo takes hold the dog's chance of survival is very limited.

Mr Thackray has another dog, Dodge, which he is training as a search and rescue dog. He had to keep him away from a national training event.

Janet Worrell, owner of Marina Kennels, said parvo was not endemic there. She said dog wardens inspected the kennels weekly and no complaints had been made.

She said dogs were given parvo vaccinations when they arrived, but not necessarily on the first day.

She said dogs stayed in their own kennel for seven days and these were cleaned and inspected every couple of hours.

There were disinfectant footbaths that all staff use and visitors are asked to use.

She added that isolation facilities were used for sick animals. "If a dog is poorly it is put in isolation straight away. We deal with nearly 3,000 dogs a year. We very rarely have parvo.

"If there is any problem whatsoever with the kennels, somebody should jump on it straight away. But they should go to the authorities, the person that gives the licence to the kennels."

A Kirklees spokesman the council would look at the issues raised.

A police spokesman said they did use Marina Kennels for stray dogs, though the contract was due for renewal soon.

He added: "If the standards we demand have slipped we will take the opportunity to review our position."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said the charity had received reports of problems at the kennels.

"We are keenly aware of the situation at Marina Kennels. Our inspectors have visited on numerous occasions.

"While the conditions at the kennels are by no means perfect they meet the council's animal care standards. Our inspectors have seen no overwhelming evidence of animals suffering."