Widow, 64, puts down beloved dog after neighbour complained about 'excessive barking'

However, because she was worried she would lose her apartment because of the grievances, Ms Johnson made the decision to have her pet euthanised.

She said: "He was my only companion since my husband died and meant the world to me.

"But I didn't want to lose my flat, so I had to have Patch put to sleep."

The 64-year-old claimed she had lived on the street in Scunthorpe for 15 years without any problems with her neighbours.

But when a new tenant moved in nearby, complaints started to be made about Patch's barking.

Sue was then sent a letter by Ongo Homes, her housing association, which informed her that she was in breach of her tenancy agreement.

She received an abatement notice on August 7 and was visited by an Environmental Health officer on September 5 when the complaints continued.

According to the officer, Patch barked 84 times between 2.59pm and 3.04pm with "no control heard". This, they said, could result in "further tenancy action".

However, Ms Johnson refuted these accusations, insisting that her beloved animal only barked when someone knocked at the door.

She said: "What they were saying was absolute nonsense, but they left no alternative.

"I tried to reason with them, but it was pointless. An Environmental Health Officer attended the area, and in a recording, Patch could be heard barking 84 times. But that's simply not true."

According to Ongo Homes, Ms Johnson was in breach of her tenancy contract which stated: "Not to create noise or allow noise of an excessive level to emanate from your home so as to cause a nuisance, annoyance or disturbance to occupants of neighbouring premises.

"Not to allow pets, birds or animals kept at your home to cause a nuisance or annoyance to neighbours and to remove any pet, bird or animal which does cause a nuisance or annoyance."

A letter sent by the association added: "This is a very serious matter and you are putting your tenancy at risk.

"The situation will be monitored, and if any further incidents occur, this could result in further tenancy action."

However, Ongo clarified it never asked for Patch to be put down, but was simply investigating noise complaints.

Dawn Hill, the head of landlord services at the association said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the decision made by Ms Johnson regarding her dog, Patch.

"We want to make it absolutely clear that Ongo would never instruct or enforce a tenant to have a pet euthanised.

"As a responsible landlord, we have a duty to ensure the well-being of all our tenants and their neighbours."

She added that the housing association had received numerous complaints about Patch's barking which it had investigated alongside the Environmental Health team from North Lincolnshire Council.

Ms Hill confirmed that a formal warning was sent to Ms Johnson because she failed to stop the barking after she was served the abatement notice on July 29.

She continued: "This led to a formal warning and subsequently a tenancy breach notice being issued, in line with our tenancy agreement and procedures."