A MAN who has applied for retrospective planning permission for a shed to house his greyhounds has slammed people spreading “false information” about him.

Habib Khan’s application for the single-storey shed, on land at High Bank Lane, Shipley, has been met with a torrent of objection comments

At the time of writing, the application has attracted 761 objections on the Council’s planning website, with serious concerns raised about the welfare of the dogs.

But Mr Khan has spoken of his distress at the claims and said he was forced to monitor his CCTV camera all night long amid fear someone would take them.

He said: “Many people have been informed of false information regarding the welfare of the dogs and reported that they were being kept in horrible conditions.”

Mr Khan said this is “far from the truth” and added: “This is very sad and disheartening that people have made me out to be cruel to my dogs.

“I love my dogs, it’s as simple as that and I will not harm them in any way.

“I hope people can see that the dogs are well looked after and have faith in me. My dogs are my life, I wouldn’t change them for anything.”

He added: “The welfare of these dogs is paramount to us and RSPCA, dog warden, police and environmental health have no concerns, they have been and are happy with the care of the dogs.”

Addressing his care of the dogs, he said they get fresh water, are fed, exercised and groomed twice a day, their kennels are cleaned twice a day, they have paper bedding for comfort and warmth and there is heating, ventilation and lighting in the kennel.

Mr Khan also said a physiotherapist visits every six weeks to check each dog and a special machine is used to get rid of tiredness, aches and pains after races and exercise.

He said he and his family spend around six hours a day with the dogs and motion-detecting cameras have been fitted to ensure they are secure and safe

“It’s just awful, picking on someone and threatening somebody when he has not done anything wrong,” said Mr Khan.

He said the welfare of his dogs is his “main concern”.

In one support comment, Chelsea Heckingbottom wrote: “Requested a visit - I got one! The man has done more then what he could to get a safe housing for the dogs.”

Nazraan Khan, in support, also hit back saying most people had not visited the site before commenting, while Tina Boston said: “You are insulting the man’s integrity.”