Battersea's longest-stay resident is the heroine of the hour

A one-year-old Akita from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home became a canine heroine after sniffing out an abandoned great Dane cross just hours from death.

Battersea's secret superhero, Foxy, was on her daily walk when she barked to alert her handler to the severely emaciated dog, which had been abandoned in a ditch near the Old Windsor centre.

The nine-month-old great Dane cross was quickly taken to Battersea's clinic for emergency medical attention. She weighed just 16kg, less than half her recommended weight.

Nursing her back to health, staff named the abandoned dog Faith, watching her weight climb to a fighting fit 23kg in a month.

Just 30 days after she was discovered an inch from death, Faith was rehomed and is now enjoying life with her new owner, Annie Gravett from Battle in East Sussex.

Kaye Mughal, centre manager at Old Windsor, said: "Faith was one of the thinnest dogs we’ve ever seen at Battersea and it was definitely touch and go for a while. It’s amazing to think that if Foxy hadn’t found her hidden in the ditch she may still be there now. Instead, Faith is enjoying her new life with a loving family where she rightfully belongs."

Saviour Foxy, on the other hand, is Battersea's longest-stay resident, having been at the Old Windsor centre since February when her owners were moving home and could not take her with them.

Staff at Battersea say the young heroine has shown high intelligence and already has good training in place to help her develop into a loyal and rewarding companion for the right owner.

Kaye added: "We really hope Foxy can have the same happy ending [as Faith] because she deserves it so much, especially as she's been in kennels for almost half her life and has now saved another dog's life."

Image courtesy of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home