A MISSING dog has been reunited with its delighted owners after being found in kennels more than 30 miles away – triggering an internal police investigation.

Poppy, a nine-year-old terrier breed, was found in the kennels in East Yorkshire following an extensive search by her owners, almost a week after going missing from her home in Lastingham Terrace, Fulford.

The owners believe Poppy travelled so far before being picked up by police, but then ran away after a member of staff at Fulford Road police station took her to stay with their own family near Goole.

Poppy’s owners say no trace of their pet being picked up was registered with the police and if it had not been for their persistent search for her, they would have never been reunited.

An internal police investigation is now being held into the confusion over Poppy’s disappearance. Sarah Fletcher said: “I’m outraged. I feel we have not had a proper explanation. Poppy means everything to us as a family, especially to the children.

“My daughter was distraught every night. What we are seeking is some kind of apology from the police for not having in place any kind of procedure or any explanation from the person who took her.”

She said they were only able to piece together what had happened to Poppy after tracking her down to the kennels in Leconfield, near Beverley.

Someone at the kennels told them their pet had been taken to the Goole area by someone working for York police, who had taken the dog to stay at their parents when she ran away.

A police spokesman said that as a formal complaint had been made, they were unable to comment in detail on the issue.

They confirmed: “A complaint has been reported and we are investigating it.”