THE former commander of the RAF is to examine the case of a pet dog that was controversially taken back by a dog rehoming charity.

Sir Richard Johns, 67, a retired Air Chief Marshall, is a patron of the Labrador Lifeline Trust that reclaimed Lunar the Labrador from devastated Salvation Army officer Alexandra Hughes.

He said he would be going through the documents he was sent on the decision which has been branded "bizarre" and a "tragic, sad injustice" by Miss Hughes.

Sir John was Chief of Air Staff from 1997 to 2000, and oversaw the RAF's hand in the successful Nato bombing that forced Serb tyrant Slobodan Milosovic to withdraw from Kosovo.

Speaking from his residence at Windsor Castle, where he is constable and governor, he said: "There is a considerable amount of paperwork to read through and I will be doing that as soon as I get time.

"I take the position of patron of the charity very seriously."

He would not comment on any possible course of action, but Sir Richard said he had been a patron of the trust for five years and had not been made aware of any problems in the past.

"I own a trust dog myself. The trust invited me to become a patron after I had approached them," he said.

Others trust patrons, the actress Penelope Keith and author Lady Elizabeth Graydon, were unavailable for comment.

Four-year-old Lunar was adopted by Major Hughes two years ago and became a beloved part of her life. But the dog was taken back by the trust without warning and chance of appeal amid fears Miss Hughes was moving to Canada.

A report by a volunteer later released to Miss Hughes cited welfare grounds, claiming the dog was overweight, had too long claws and was kept in a car during hot weather.

Miss Hughes, of Eastleigh, said she told the trust she wasn't moving and, backed by her vet, denies the welfare allegations made by an "unqualified" volunteer.