Woman sacked over pet dog wins payout

A former stewardess who was unfairly sacked from a Black Country social club in a row over a rottweiler has settled out of court for a five-figure sum.

Helen Davies was dismissed from Wednesfield Conservative Club in July last year.

Gross misconduct was alleged over her keeping her pet Bam Bam in a flat above the Neachells Lane venue. The 50-year-old took up the role of stewardess at the club in 2005 and was given written permission to live in the flat along with her partner and "one dog".

At the time she owned an alsatian called Ellie but when the pet died in January 2010, she got Bam Bam from Sunnyside Kennels in Coven.

A dispute then flared between Miss Davies and the club's committee over her right to keep the rottweiler in the flat, which eventually resulted in her sacking.

But an employment tribunal in Birmingham has ruled that Miss Davies was unfairly dismissed.