YORK RSPCA officials have banned the public from looking round its kennels area without an appointment, it was revealed today.

They say they were forced to take the drastic measure at the animal home in Landing Lane, because of regular abuse to staff and the alleged theft of a puppy.

Paul Richard Lovie, 47, of Rose Street, off Haxby Road, was recently sentenced to 15 months in prison after he admitted threatening a man at the Landing Lane animal home. He forced his way into the sanctuary with a gun and a sword to try and get back his pet dog.

And a 12-week-old puppy, Poppy, was allegedly taken from the home on June 15, but has now been found safe and well.

Poppy, a short-haired black and tan Collie and whippet cross, was found at a house in Tang Hall. A couple were arrested in connection with the alleged incident following an RSPCA and police operation.

"We get verbal abuse nearly every day from members of the public," said home manager Elaine Murdoch.

"We have to take this action for the safety of the staff and the animals.

"Access to the kennels will be limited to people who have just had a home visit and genuinely want an animal.

"We're very sad to have to make this decision, but it's a sign of the times."

Mrs Murdoch said they were "thrilled" to have Poppy back and were still looking for a decent home for her.

The puppy was playing with its sister, Polly, in a high-fenced enclosure while the home was open to the public when she disappeared.

Both puppies, which are identical, had been inseparable since they arrived at the home aged four weeks old.

Wandering Oliver back home again

A YORK woman was overjoyed when she was re-united with a lost cat - after seeing his photo in the Evening Press.

Simone Ford, 33, of Middleham Avenue, Heworth, thought she might never see her cat, Oliver, again after he went missing.

Although she was not Oliver's official owner, he used to spend days at her house along with others in the street.

When Simone's sister phoned her to tell her Oliver had been pictured in the Evening Press, she rushed out to buy a copy.

The missing cat had been taken in by the Cats Protection Shelter in Huntington Road, after a worried resident informed them that the animal had been seen wandering around badly hurt.

The shelter named the cat Bluto after a one-eyed cat - called Popeye - joined the home. Simone said she recognised the missing cat at once, and went to collect him from the shelter as soon as possible.

Now she wants Oliver to adopt her house as his permanent home. She added that she wanted to thank staff at the shelter for taking Oliver in.

Updated: 09:22 Saturday, July 03, 2004