Dumped dog on road to recovery

The cross-terrier called Precious was discovered in March on the Eastern Way Bypass near the Orbital Retail Park in Cannock. She was in a semi-conscious state with her fur so badly matted she resembled a bunch of rags.

After an appeal to raise funds for an operation to remove a lump, an anonymous couple from a village near Stafford came forward to pay the full £1,000 cost for the operation.

Vets discovered Precious has Cushings Disease, and the couple decided to stump up the cost of the operation because their own dog has the same hormone disorder.

There was an anxious wait to see if Precious, believed to be eight years old, would pull through the operation. But the RSPCA has confirmed it was a success and that Precious is now well on the way to a full recovery.

A spokesman for the charity said: "The operation was a success. It went very well and took less time than the veterinary surgeons had estimated.

"The lump was removed successfully but it could take awhile for the tests to come back. Precious was sitting up quite quickly afterwards and she seemed quite bright and alert." Now she has been shaved and cleaned up the RSPCA will continue to use a hydrotherapy pool to build up her strength after what inspectors said must have been "years of neglect."

Those responsible for her condition or abandoning her have never been traced.

The anonymous donor, from a village near Stafford, who gave the £1,000 towards the operation said she was "over the moon" at the news the procedure had been a success.

The Cannock Hospital League of Friends has also raised more than £100 for the dog and all money will go to her on-going costs and care.

Anyone who would like to make a donation towards the costs for Precious should send it to RSPCA Wales & West Regional HQ, Gonsal Farm, Dorrington, Shrewsbury, SY5 7ET.

Any extra raised will be used in the Stafford and Wolverhampton branches.