NINE days after little Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death by a pit bull terrier type dog, police seized an American bulldog' and three puppies from a nearby house - but their distraught owner insists my dogs are no danger to anyone'.

Richard Leigh (24), of Alder Hey Road in Eccleston, who co-owns the dogs with 25-year-old pal Paul Casey, says he can't understand why police believe four of his dogs are dangerous. He claims they are American bulldogs, not pit bulls.

He also says he is upset that police have turned down his efforts to pass on food and blankets for the puppies.

Mr Leigh, who works for St Helens Council, fumed: "I'm all for dangerous dogs being put down but not innocent ones like these - they haven't done anything wrong.

"I'm most worried about the mother of the puppies, three-year-old Elsie, who recently had surgery on her knee. The puppies are only six-months-old and are very impressionable."

Police seized five dogs when they raided Mr Leigh's house in January, but returned one the following day.

They then sent Mr Leigh a letter to explain that dog identification experts had examined the dogs and considered them to be a type banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Mr Leigh and Mr Casey now plan to challenge this verdict at a civil hearing next week, in which they must convince the court that each dog is not of a prohibited breed. If they fail the court may then decide to destroy the dogs.

But Mr Leigh added: "I'll do anything to get my dogs back - there's no way I'll just agree to have Elsie and the puppies put down. As far as I know, we've never had a complaint about them. I know the police are searching for pit bull terrier type dogs, but that description could apply to any number of dogs around town. Why take our dogs away?"