A DOG has finally been reunited with its owners after being impounded by a council – but at the cost of an 11-year-old boy’s only savings.

News Shopper is appealing to readers to help reimburse the £125 release fee which George Callaghan, of Sycamore Drive, Swanley, had to pay to get his dog, Tilly, back.

His father Robert Callaghan, 50 of told News Shopper how Tilly was being held in kennels by Sevenoaks District Council, despite her being found yards from home and having a microchip.

The single dad-of-one said he could not afford the fee, and had to use George’s savings to stop her being rehomed.

Mr Callaghan said: “I asked the council ‘what happens now’ and they said ‘We’ll try to find her a new home.’ “I said she’s already got a home here.”

“My son is over the moon to have her back. But it was either use his savings or sell his games stuff, and we needed the money quickly.

“That was all we had and we are starting from scratch now.”

Mr Callaghan said George had asked his father to ring the reception at Crockenhill Primary School, The Green, so that he knew Tilly had been safely returned.

Mr Callaghan added: “It’s outrageous. I know they have got to save money but they have got to have a bit of discretion.

“It’s been a lot of heartache and a lot of tears have been shed. She was a prisoner and they were holding her to ransom.”

Mr Callaghan said Tilly has been changed by her time in the kennels, but that she is happy to be home.

He said: “She’s looking for a lot of affection because she’s been away for a week. Every time you walk past her she wants to be stroked.”

A spokeswoman for Sevenoaks District Council said: "The council's stray dog out of hours service was called and the dog taken to kennels. If a dog is collected outside of business hours it will be taken to kennels immediately and only returned during working hours.

"The owner's were identified by the microchip and contacted next working day which due the bank holiday was Tuesday 31st May, 2011. The owner was advised that the cost of the return of the dog was £125, this includes a statutory fee, council and kennelling costs.

"The cost was reduced by £15 to reflect the fact the dog was micro chipped.

"It is the policy of the Council not to return a dog until full payment has been made."

Sevenoaks District Council also strenuously denied that it would sell an animal on.

Can you help us restore this family’s funds? Call the newsdesk on 01689 885726 or email smaden@london.newsquest.co.uk.