A PITBULL-TYPE dog was seized by police as part of a new crackdown on illegal breeds.

Officers acting on tip-offs executed a warrant at a house in Walton Lane, Nelson, at around 7.30am.

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Police acted after neighbours reported a dog using its jaws to hang from a tree in Marsden Park, and branches in the garden of the house had also been damaged by the dog’s teeth.

There had also been a report of a dog matching the description of the pet seized acting in a dangerous or threatening manner, according to dog warden Gareth Aspey.

Wildlife officer PC Nigel Keates said officers acted quickly after learning young children were living alongside the pet.

He said: “We have to assess the potential of the dog. It’s a large dog with a large head and mouth, and lots of teeth.

“And with young children at the address, we had to look at protecting them.”

The male dog, which had not been neutered, was taken to a nearby kennel by Mr Aspey and it will now be checked to see if it is a banned breed.

Mr Aspey said three concerning reports had been made about the dog.

He said: “One report was of a dog hanging from the tree branch, training its grip.

“There was a report of large branches on the ground in the garden used by the dog, and a report about other dogs being chased.”

The animal showed no aggression as it was led away.

PC Keates said: “Obviously the dog has yet to be looked at, but this just goes to show they are not always the ‘devil dog’, angry and kicking off.

“I have had banned breeds rolling on their backs for me to tickle their bellies before.”

PC Keates said he knew of at least one other dog matching the seized pet’s description in the same area.

When carrying out the examination, a dog legislation officer (DLO) will test the dog on 13 characteristics, including its physical appearance, height and weight, coat, eyes, tail, and skeletal structure.

If it is found not to be of a banned breed, it will be handed back to its owner.

If the expert does deem it to be illegal, the owner can go to court and apply for a license to keep it under certain conditions.

These would include the dog being tattooed for identification and neutered, muzzled and kept on a lead in public at all times, chipped, and covered by insurance.

PC Keates said the dog’s owner had pledged to cooperate in a bid to get back the family pet.

There was no suggestion the seized dog had been used in illegal animal fighting, although PC Keates said the activity was still prevalent in East Lancashire.

However part of the new crackdown on dangerous dogs will target anyone involved in the activity.

PC Keates said: “We very much rely on people coming forward. Dog fighters know it is against the law and it’s very deep underground, so we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears.

“It’s often hidden by the very nature of the offence and, with the cuts, there are less of us on the ground to catch these people at it.”

Earlier this month, police and the RSPCA seized two dogs from an address in Nelson and arrested a man on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and animal fighting.