Two dogs have been saved from death after magistrates ruled they were not banned breeds.

Cleo, who hit the headlines last year after being thrown out of a van, was saved along with another dog, Buster, after previously being deemed dangerous by police.

Animal loving campaigners, along with Medway Council, decided to take both cases to court and use the legal process to prove the dogs were not banned breeds, saving them from being put down.

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The case was held at Medway Magistrates' Court yesterday and magistrates agreed with the campaigners after a independent vet carried out and assessment to determine if either dog was a pitbull type.

Cleo, was abandoned on a country lane in High Halstow, in June last year.

Footage was shared online of her callous owner leaving her in the road before speeding off.

She was taken in by Medway Council’s stray dog service and rehomed.

However, it later emerged a police officer had suspected Cleo to be a banned breed and her adopter handed her back.

The same happened with Buster, who was also taken in by Medway Council's stray dog service.

The authority, along with the animal campaigners then commissioned specialist vet Kendal Shepherd to carry out an independent assessment and found the dogs didn't meet the criteria to be deemed banned breeds.

Magistrates heard there are 66 features a dog must meet to be deemed a dangerous breed, Cleo was found to only met 42% of the features and Buster only met 45% of the features on assessment.

James Parry on behalf of the campaigners told magistrates both dogs did not meet the criteria needed to be deemed dangerous dogs.

Mr Parry said: "The dogs do not present substantial features to be deemed a pitbull types.

"There are not substantial number of features, so I would ask you dismiss the application so they can be rehomed."

The campaign group Fight Against Breed-Specific Legislation, decided to take both dogs through the legal process as it was the only way their lives could be saved and covered the costs of the process.

One member of the voluntary group, Gill Henderson previously revealed the group had to fundraise to meet the cost of the legal battle.

Magistrates agreed and dismissed the application to destroy the dogs. Kent Police did not take part in the prosecution, but if the dogs' fate had not been determined by the courts, laws in this country would have meant they would have to be put to sleep.

It is understood they had both been looked after in kennels while the matter was settled, but can now be found permanent homes.

Insp Ian Warner of Kent Police's tactical operations said: "We have specially trained and accredited Dog Legislation Officers who comply with the American Dog Breeders’ Association standard of confirmation as published in 1977. This is a standard framework used in the UK since 1993.

"This takes into account the physical characteristics of a dog only.

"At no stage did we deem Cleo or Buster to be dangerous, only that they had the physical characteristics of the Pitbull-type dog.

"Kent Police had no direct involvement in these proceedings."