A DOG who was found by the side of a road by a Newport woman has been allowed to go home with the family who rescued him.

Ernie the spaniel was rescued by Nicole Abraham 56, of Goldcliff, Newport, when she found him on the side of a road in Cardiff on Saturday, March 31.

Although Ms Abraham posted on Facebook appealing for Ernie’s owners to come forward, she then found herself embroiled in a battle with Cardiff City Council’s dog wardens, who said that she would not be allowed to keep the 11-year-old dog without authorisation.

But now the council has confirmed he has been checked by wardens and has been allowed to go home with Abraham family.

A council statement issued this afternoon said: "Cardiff Council would like to thank the Abrahams for bringing Ernie the spaniel to Cardiff Dogs Home today, Friday, April 6, so we could carry out the required, legal checks on him.

"Our wardens checked Ernie's chip details and his health and the Abrahams completed the required finder's paperwork for us.

"Ernie was then allowed to return to Newport and, subject to final home check, Ernie will be allowed to stay in a loving and caring new home."

The statement added the family had been advised to speak to a vet about Ernie's ongoing needs.

"Today's visit to the dog home was important," it said.

"We needed to see Ernie and we needed to scan his chip to be certain of his health and ownership history.

The visit also ensured that the Abrahams fulfilled their legal responsibility under section 150(1b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which states clearly that ‘any person who finds a stray dog shall take the dog to the officer of the local authority for the area in which the dog was found and shall inform the officer of the local authority'.

"While many finders may wish to keep a dog they find, the council has to make reasonable attempts to identify an owner, in order to afford them reasonable opportunity to collect their dog.

"We have to do this by law before authorising any finder to keep a dog, as per section four of the Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992.

"This is why we needed to see Ernie."

Ms Abraham had previously called the situation "overwhelming".

A JustGiving page was also been set up to cover Ernie’s veterinary and care bills. So far, the page has raised £1,170, far outstripping its original target of £250.