Police kept a dog in a 1m (3ft) by 3m (9ft) cage for two years without ever exercising it



Stella was seized after her owner was arrested on an unrelated matter in Devon in 2014.

Devon and Cornwall Police refused to give specific reasons why the dog could not be exercised.

A worker at the kennels said they were told by police not to exercise dogs held under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The RSPCA has created a guide to good practice for all police forces, which states: "Dogs must be provided with the opportunity to exercise away from their kennel at least once a day and this should be for a total of at least 30 minutes."

Stella, a pit bull-type dog, was considered potentially dangerous because of her breed.

Court heard from owner Antony Hastie who said there were no incidents of aggressive behaviour prior to being seized.

In February 2016 it was ruled she should be destroyed.