ERRINGTON - Two dogs in Errington have spent over a year in lockup after being seized and branded dangerous.

It started as a simple dog fight.  But it has escalated into a nasty court battle between neighbours and the Regional District of Nanaimo.

On Monday, there was a small protest outside the SPCA in Errington - a protest over the treatment of 2 dogs that have been languishing here for almost 14 months.

Over a year of court battles and appeals - and appeals of appeals - all over what one protester eloquently calls a "bitch fight".

It all started here over a year ago - 4 dogs in a scrap - resulting in Elaine Cameron's 2 dogs - Chloe and Zac seized by Regional District bylaw officers and the RCMP.

Cameron is a 30 year Tibetan nun who takes in rescued dogs and horses onto her Errington property.

Cameron insists Chloe and Zac are not violent.  And that this is more about neighbourhood relations than public safety.

The SPCA says the dogs are comfortable, healthy and they do get exercised.

In court, an Appeal Judge ruled that the destroy order be overturned.  Later, a BC Court of Appeal ruled not to make a decision on the earlier ruling. 

But still the dogs remain locked up.