A DOG which was allegedly poisoned - leading to the arrests of two men - was in fact "bright and alert", an FOI has shown.

The incident dates back to January 9 at the Kirby Misperton hydraulic fracturing site on Habton Road; a time of significant levels of protest by anti-fracking campaigners.

The original reports said that two men, aged 42 and 61, had been arrested.

The 42-year-old was arrested in Kirby Misperton on suspicion of administering poison to an animal, and causing criminal damage to an animal. The 61-year-old man was arrested on a bus at Tadcaster Bus Station on suspicion of causing criminal damage to an animal.

At the time police said that they had been informed that "a number of pellets had been thrown over the fence into the hydraulic fracturing site", and that a guard dog had eaten some of the pellets, been sick and collapsed.

"Several pellets were seized from the site," they added. "A caravan parked on Habton Road was searched as part of the investigation."

The next day it was revealed the dog was "recovering well".

On March 6, police then said that the investigation into the two men over the suspected poisoning had been dropped.

But a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by campaigners in early May revealed that a blood sample was taken by vets at the time and "nothing showed regards poisoning".

It added that the vet found the animal "bright and alert. Heart rate normal as was temperature. No swellings round neck, no dehydration. No concerns but kept in as a precaution. Given activated charcoal along with food."

A spokesperson for Third Energy, the company which owns the well-site, said that the dog's collapse had been captured on CCTV.

They said: “Third Energy is relieved that a security dog, working at its site in Kirby Misperton, made a full recovery following emergency treatment in early January 2018.

"The dog had vomited and collapsed at the site after eating pellets thrown over the security fence. North Yorkshire Police hold the relevant CCTV recordings from the day.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “Police were informed that a guard dog had become ill at Kirby Misperton in January 2018.

"An investigation was launched and two men were arrested. The dog made a full recovery.

"No further action was taken in relation to the incident.”