Rosie the doberman is more used to a custom-built kennel.

But now the dog is facing six months behind bars after officials noticed an irregularity in her pet passport.

Seven-year-old Rosie has accompanied her owner Paul Bowler on frequent holidays to Europe in the past six years without any problem.

But earlier this week Mr Bowler was stopped by animal health officers in Calais and told Rosie would have to be taken into quarantine.

He had to spend the night in a bed and breakfast in France, then hand Rosie to officials in Dover the next day.

She will spend the next six months at a quarantine facility in Hassocks.

Mr Bowler, 59, of North Gardens in Brighton, said: "It's upsetting because there's no way of explaining to her why I've left her there. I think she'll be puzzled as to what is going on.

"I've had her since she was five weeks old and we've been to every country on the Continent. When I stay in hotels she sleeps in a basket at the foot of my bed so she's never away from my side."

The problem occurred because the correct procedure was not followed when Rosie was issued the pet passport in 2001.

She should have been micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies before having a blood sample taken a month later to ensure the vaccination had worked.

Instead, she was micro-chipped at the same time as the blood sample was taken.

Her vet, Peter Stotesbury, has written to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, and Lord Rooker, the animal health minister, to appeal for leniency.

He said Rosie could be "specifically and uniquely" identified by her microchip, while the blood test taken on the same day did prove she was successfully vaccinated.

Since then she has been regularly re-vaccinated in accordance with pet passport regulations.

Mr Stotesbury said: "Rosie is without any doubt as fully protected against rabies as any other dog with a valid pet passport. She cannot present any more of a risk to Britain's rabies status than any other animal for whom the passport conditions have been correctly applied.

"The owners who apply for pet passports are generally those who have a particularly strong bond with their pet.

This is the case with Mr Bowler and Rosie and we are aware of the distress which will be caused by an extended separation.

"Although Rosie's eligibility to return to Britain without a period of quarantine has been lost, I hope a pragmatic view will be taken to allow her early release from quarantine."

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said it could not comment on an individual case.

rachel.wareing@theargus.co.uk