Baldrick, or Dewey, is now back with Mrs Delaney

The Chinese crested - called Baldrick because of his forlorn appearance - is the property of Jessie Delaney, it was ruled at Telford County Court on Tuesday.

The decision was a disappointment for dog pound owner Marty Burrell, who took the animal in after he was found abandoned on a doorstep.

Mrs Burrell, whose Hilbrae Pets Hotel is the official kennel for Telford, had refused to give the dog back to Mrs Delaney, claiming he would not be properly cared for because he had effectively been given up.

Mrs Delaney said she left the dog, who she knows as Dewey, with a friend while she was in hospital, but found that he had disappeared when she came to collect him.

The 46-year-old, from Wellington, Shropshire, had given him up for dead, but spotted his picture in a local newspaper two months ago after Mrs Burrell advertised for a new owner.

She set out to prove Dewey was hers by ordering DNA tests that showed he was bred from other Chinese Crested dogs.

I've got to go with the court - I'm not going to go to prison for him Marty Burrell

Mrs Burrell initially defied the court order and refused to return the dog to Mrs Delaney.

She demanded that Mrs Delaney pay her �350 she claims she and her husband Jim had spent on caring for Baldrick over the past two months.

But the tug-of-love was eventually resolved on Tuesday evening and the dog is back with Mrs Delaney at her Wellington home.

Mrs Delaney, who is a dog breeder, told BBC's Midlands Today programme that she believes justice has now been done.

"I wanted him back and I knew I were telling the truth. I didn't tell a lie at all."

Ill husband

Mrs Burrell said she was upset with the decision.

"I could've done without the stress. My husband's not a well man.

"We've all become very, very attached to the dog.