A pit bull terrier has been saved from a death sentence after an animal behaviour specialist agreed to adopt the dog.

The terrier bitch, named Sky, has been in kennels for more than a year after magistrates in north Devon ordered her destruction but owner Amanda Claxton appealed against the sentence.

Sky will now be rehomed in the new year with Newton Abbot-based Ruth Owen, who runs Devon Dog Behaviour and advises other pet owners about how to train their animals.

Miss Claxton told a Judge at Exeter Crown Court: "As long as my dog stays alive, that is the main thing. She has been in kennels for a year and she needs to be out of them. It doesn’t matter about me."

Sky was classified as a dangerous dog in July last year and seized by the police after two incidents in August and November 2014 in which she was seen unmuzzled in public.

She has been examined by dog behaviour experts while in kennels and has been found to be a friendly dog who poses no inherent risk to the public.

Miss Owen was one of the experts consulted and agreed to take over the keepership of Sky. She already has a ’family’ of rescue dogs at her base at Coombefishacre, near Newton Abbot.

Recorder Mr Philip Mott, QC, agreed to the transfer after being told Miss Claxton was unable to continue to keep the dog because of illness.

The decision will have to be approved by magistrates in north Devon before the case returns to Exeter Crown Court next month, when the appeal will be allowed and Sky will be moved from kennels to Miss Owen.

The Recorder said the law on dangerous dogs was complex and the technicalities had to be adhered to. He said: "I can see the pragmatic sense but there must be an application to the magistrates’ court first.

"We must take care to ensure all the requirements are satisfied. As soon as that is done the matter can come back here and the order for the destruction of the dog can be set aside.

"We are very sorry we cannot short-circuit the procedure, but that is the law which has to be satisfied because of the very stringent controls over dangerous dogs which Parliament has determined."

He told Miss Claxton she does not need to return to court for the final hearing next month.

The appeal arose because Miss Claxton, aged 53, of Charles Dart Street, Barnstaple, admitted two offences at Barnstaple Magistrates’ Court in March 2015.

They were allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead, and being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control.

She was fined £100, given an eight-month conditional discharge, and the bench ordered Sky must be destroyed. She appealed against the destruction order.

Richard Childs, prosecuting, said the order can only be lifted if police are satisfied there would be no danger to the public once Sky is taken on by Ruth Owen. The CPS are happy that should happen.

Emmi Wilson, said Miss Claxton has agreed to Miss Owen becoming Sky’s legal keeper. She also provided a medical letter confirming Miss Claxton was unable to keep the dog.

The case will return to North Devon Magistrates, who will approve the change of keepership to Miss Owen. Recorder Mott will then lift the destruction order by allowing that part of the appeal.