A vet performed major surgery on a dog on his kitchen table, a disciplinary committee heard.

The 11-year-old German Shepherd-Staffordshire bull terrier cross later died from haemorrhaging.

Mark and Yvette Davey, of Franfield Close, Ifield, Crawley, had taken Lady to the home of mobile vet Dr Ronald Porter to be spayed.

Dr Porter is appearing before a disciplinary hearing of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons where he denies four allegations of misconduct.

Dr Porter is alleged to have failed to provide post-operative care, used an inappropriate and/or inadequate anaesthesia and performed major surgery at inadequate premises.

He is also said to have known his consent form, promising "the highest practical standards," was misleading.

Alison Foster, representing the college, told the central London hearing Lady fell ill on June 23.

Her owners contacted Dr Porter because he advertised himself locally as a mobile vet and they knew their pet was afraid of surgeries.

A couple of days later, after providing antibiotics, Dr Porter returned and transported Lady in his van to his home, a wing of a converted mansion in Capel, near Dorking.

Miss Foster said: "He has no proper consultation room and operates on the kitchen table which is also used domestically, boiling instruments on the stove to sterilise them."

The Daveys paid around £250 for the operation and Lady was returned the same day, carried into the family house on a makeshift stretcher.

The dog could not walk, was breathing heavily, her ears were cold and lips pale. Mrs Davey asked Dr Porter to return but the family pet died before he arrived.

Mrs Davey told the hearing she had put Dr Porter under no pressure to return Lady the same day.

A second vet confirmed the cause of death as haemorrhaging after a ligature slipped off.

Dr Porter refused to allow the family to inspect his operating area.

Mrs Davey added: "He did say something to me about money but there is no money in the world that can put that right. I felt he just wanted to pay me off.

"I don't think he had any care or concern about anything but himself."

The hearing continues.