Illegally imported dogs from Eastern Europe have raised fears of rabies in the district.

The alert was sparked after Bradford Council seized an illegally imported dog from Slovakia in West Bowling.

It was feared the Japanese Akita crossbreed, which was not properly vaccinated and smuggled into the country by car, could have been carrying the incurable disease.

It was seized by officers from the Council's animal health and dog warden service but was put down when the owners refused to pay the quarantine bill.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for the environment and culture, said: "If someone catches rabies there is nearly a 100 per cent chance that they will die from it.

"This type of action is absolutely vital if we are to keep the UK free from rabies.

It's a disease that we don't have but is endemic in parts of Europe."

A Council spokesman said: "We have never handled a case like this before where a dog has been imported illegally. Allegations have been made that there are other dogs in the area that may have been brought into the country in similar circumstances. Our investigations are ongoing."

He added: "They have rabies in Slovakia where the dog was from, that is why we seized the animal as it could have been carrying the disease.

"We are appealing to the people of Bradford who have information about illegally imported dogs and their whereabouts to come forward.

Vet Lawrence Doddy, of the Shipley and Idle veterinary centres, said: "I myself have not seen any cases such as this but it is a major concern if dogs that could be infected with rabies are being brought into the country illegally.

"A dog infected by rabies will behave aggressively and will probably be salivating excessively and drooling.

"In the final stages it will ultimately collapse and start fitting.

Anyone who sees a dog behaving in this way should not approach it. They should contact the police, the RSPCA or a vet."

A spokesman for DEFRA said: "Nationally there have been 123 cases of illegally landed dogs so far this year.

"This could include cases involving more than one dog."

"There have been no reported cases of humans being infected with rabies in the UK from between 1902 and 2002.

"A conservationist died in Scotland in 2002 from a strain of rabies after being infected by a bat.

"Since 1977 there have been a small number of human cases of rabies in the UK where the disease has been acquired abroad."

Anyone with information should call Bradford Council's Animal Health Team on (01274) 434629.

e-mail: jennifer.sugden @bradford.newsquest.co.uk