A DOG owner had the shock of her life when her stolen dog was returned to her -- spray-painted.

The bull terrier is believed to have been snatched and used in illegal dog fighting.

And the owner of Charlie the English bull terrier today attacked the people who stole her beloved pet and then painted him.

Cheryl Denwood, of St James' Mews, Church, was called to Aspin Valley Boarding Kennels last week -- a month after Charlie went missing.

At first she refused to believe he was hers because he was all white, but the dog at the kennels had a massive black patch around his eye.

But when the microchip on the dog was examined by the kennels, Cheryl's name and address flashed up -- leaving her with no alternative but to accept Charlie was hers.

Charlie also had cuts all over his body -- a sign that he had been used in a dog fight, according to staff at the kennels.

Cheryl, who has three children, said: "I find it really sick that someone can just take someone else's pet, spray-paint it so it looks different and then use it for fighting.

"Charlie is very shy and friendly, obviously no use to them, so he was dumped. I have been told he was handed in by the dog warden.

"He has been to the vets to check the cuts and gashes and will recover.

"But to paint my pet is a disgrace and I want to warn people to be careful and look after their pets."

She added: "When I first saw Charlie, I didn't believe it was my pet. I went home to tell the children that it wasn't Charlie.

"They asked why not and I said because the dog had a big black patch on its eye.

"They asked if someone could have put make-up on Charlie and I said 'Don't be daft. People don't do that.'

"It turned out they had done something worse."

Pat Allen, from Aspin Valley, in Oswaldtwistle, said everyone was sickened by what had happened.

She said: "I can understand why Mrs Denwood didn't think it was her dog because it looked different. But the chip matched Charlie up to Mrs Denwood and it turns out that a long-last ink or paint has been used to colour the dog.

"He was very traumatised when he arrived but the important thing is that he is back with the family.

Steven Wood, Hyndburn's dog warden, said: "Dog fighting is definitely taking place in Hyndburn.

"I've picked up Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers and English Bull Terriers from the streets with severe injuries such as gashes, ripped skin and broken bones.

"I know dogs and I am sure these injuries were caused by fighting."