A Bracknell kennels is under investigation after "concerning" reports about conditions in its UK government-approve dog quarantine facility. 

Officials at the government's Animal and Plant Health Authority (APHA) have said it has launched an "immediate" probe into the facility at Ryslip Kennels in Church Lane, Binfield. 

It follows a complaint from a woman whose dog was taken into quarantine after travelling from South Africa.

Hannah Fowles, from Bath, said her dog Milo was placed in Ryslip Kennels for three months after he travelled from South Africa to the UK. 

Hannah, 41, said her complaint to AFHA had been prompted when she visited her much-loved pet and found him allegedly kept in facilities with cramped and unsanitary conditions.

Leaking roofs, algae-covered water bowls, and urine pooling in units housing dogs were among the alarming issues at the site, Hannah claims. She added: "The smell is overwhelming - and Milo seems petrified of the staff. 

"I have felt completely helpless to protect him. The whole situation has been devastating.

"It needs a complete overhaul. The whole system seems appalling."

A spokesperson from Defra, which oversees APHA, said the complain was 'concerning'. They added: “The Government is committed to preserving the highest standards of animal welfare and biosecurity. We have launched an immediate investigation into the case to ensure these standards are being met.” 

Hannah, who visited the site on Saturday, said that she welcomed the investigation but "definitely not enough is being done" to address her concerns. She said: "This is about long-term changes and the reform of the system."

Milo had been tested for various diseases after he was adopted in South Africa and placed in quarantine for four months as a pre-caution before travelling to the UK. 

But Milo's microchip implant - which links him to his medical records - malfunctioned during the journey, meaning that he needed to endure three months of quarantine after landing in Heathrow in July. 

Hannah is having to pay £750 a month for the quarantine service, with Ryslip Kennels being the nearest and the most affordable option for the charity worker. 

Her concerns come after the site's boarding kennels were given a One-star rating by Bracknell Forest Council in May of this year - as facility was not large enough for new size requirements. 

But the council had "no concerns about overall compliance" following three visits earlier this year, according to Damian James, assistant director for contract services. 

He said: “Regarding the parts of the facility that the council does license, the 1-star rating reflects the fact that some of the kennels were built before new size requirements were introduced.

"To achieve a higher rating, these kennels would need to be upgraded. We understand that planning approval has been granted for site improvements, and there are plans to either upgrade these kennels or remove them from use by the time of the next renewal."

Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 says that the sleeping area size of new kennel units built after the regulation came into force must be 1.9m2.

If a business wishes to obtain a 4- or 5-star licence they must meet the higher standards where one of the mandatory requirements is that the sleeping area must be 2.85m2.

The business's quarantine facility fall under the jurisdiction of the APHA. 

Ryslip Kennels was approached by The Bracknell News for comment.