A court heard how the dog may have slipped its chain after a failed attempt to steal the animal from the garden of the property.

Amanda Longley, 41, of Cambridge Gardens, Bramley, was fined £200 plus £500 costs over the incident in June last year.

Derek Hallam, prosecuting, told Leeds Magistrates' Court how a Leeds City Council dog warden had been called to a report of a cat being killed in the area.

When he arrived at the scene the dog, a Japanese Akita/collie cross, had been put inside a resident's car to prevent further attacks.

The animal was traced to Longley after it was found to be microchipped.

Mr Hallam said Longley told the warden that she had already reported the animal missing and had been looking for it when she was contacted.

Longley pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dangerous or out of control dog.

June Dodson, for Longley, said the seven-year-old family pet had never previously attacked anyone or been allowed to roam the streets.

The solicitor said months before the incident Longley's dog had been stolen from the garden and was later returned to her after been found in Herefordshire.

Since then the dog had been kept on a chain secured with a lock.

Mrs Dodson told the court that on the day of the incident Longley had been decorating inside her home and noticed the pet missing when she stopped for a break.

She immediately reported the animal missing, believing it to be stolen again after finding a pin which secured the chain laying on the ground. She was contacted by the dog warden as she drove around looking for it.

Mrs Dodson said: "This incident has weighed heavily on her mind ever since she found out that the dog might be destroyed. She has been very worried about the unpleasant experience of being dragged through a public court."

Magistrates were also told that Longley was now hoping to buy an enclosed pen for the dog. She also agreed to be the subject of a order to keep the animal on a lead in public.