An escape-prone family pet, dubbed Carlisle’s “Houdini Hound”, is back on death row – after she was caught on camera not wearing her muzzle as her owner collected her from Carlisle’s Police HQ.

Kizzie was first condemned to death last year.

Because she is classed as a dangerous dog, her owner, Jason O’Neil, 26, was legally obliged to keep her on a lead and muzzled in public.

But the nine-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier/Labrador cross – described by a police officer as “soft and friendly” – got into trouble after repeatedly scaling the 6ft high fence around her owner’s garden.

It was meant to keep her off the streets – but the fence was not enough to contain the adventure- loving dog.

As a result, in September, 2016, a district judge ordered Kizzie’s destruction – but the dog’s plight triggered a huge outpouring of sympathy.

Mr O’Neil’s online petition to save his pet was supported by nearly 2,000 people across the world.

The saga appeared to be over in January last year when a Carlisle Crown Court judge reprieved Kizzie – but on the strict condition that she was always kept on a lead and muzzled when in public.

Incredibly, Mr O’Neil has been forced to fight for his dog’s life a second time.

At the city’s magistrates’ court, Cumbria Police applied to have Kizzie put down after a CCTV camera outside the city’s Durranhill Police HQ filmed Mr O’Neil collecting Kizzie, with her muzzle off.

The force’s lawyer, Jonathan Tomlinson, outlined how Mr O’Neil collected Kizzie on March 31 last year.

Inside the police station, staff had handed over the dog and Mr O’Neil immediately put a muzzle on his pet, as required by the existing court order.

“On leaving the police station,” said Mr Tomlinson, “he subsequently removed the muzzle. This was observed on CCTV.”

The court was shown CCTV images, with Mr O’Neil walking from the station with his dog attached to its lead, but with its muzzle hanging loose.

He briefly disappears behind his Ford Mondeo car and then re-emerges with the dog, which was still not wearing its muzzle.

Mr O’Neil then puts Kizzie in the boot of his car, but minutes later transfers her to his mother’s Mini. Though still on her lead, Kizzie was without her muzzle for around three minutes.

In court, Mr O’Neil denied removing the muzzle.

He said his pet’s old muzzle was destroyed by another of his dogs and on the way to the station he called into Pets At Home on London Road to buy a new one.

“The only muzzle I could buy was one which fitted a Rottweiler – a large one,” he said. “Kizzie had never worn one of those before and straight away she clawed it straight off… I had it on as tight as it would go.

“The woman [at the counter] said I was only going 100 yards to the car and it wouldn’t be a problem. As far as I was concerned, the woman had told me I was okay to go.”

When he disappeared behind the car, said Mr O’Neil, he had been trying to get the muzzle back on Kizzie. He said that a dog expert had assessed Kizzie’s temperament for the last appeal and ruled she was not a public danger.

“The woman who looked after her said she had no aggression at all,” added Mr O’Neil.

Police arrived at his home six weeks later to seize Kizzie, he said. He would have happily delayed collecting Kizzie to buy a new muzzle if asked, he said.

Magistrates were satisfied the dog did not pose a danger to the public.

“But we also have to be satisfied that the owner is a fit and proper person to take charge of the dog,” said the presiding magistrate.

She added: “Mr O’Neil, it was your responsibility when you collected the dog to comply with the conditions [imposed by the court] from January 13, 2017. You didn’t comply with those conditions when you went to collect the dog.

“Therefore, we don’t find that you are a fit and proper person to own this type of dog.”

As a result, Kizzie must be put down, added the bench chairwoman. The destruction order will be carried out in 21 days – the time allowed for an appeal.

Mr O’Neil confirmed that he had no plans to appeal, adding: “There’s no point. The whole thing is just a bad joke.”