A YOUNG dog rescued by a North Somerset animal charity when she was close to death is enjoying life in a new home.

Annie was found wandering in the road near Cribbs Causeway in Bristol by a member of the public who called staff at Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary in Barrow Gurney.

With puss all over her body, severely infected eyes and at a weight 6kg below average, her prospects did not seem great.

Holly Hedge put an appeal in the Times for funds to help pay for operations on her eyes and a huge response from readers meant enough was pledged to cover the �3,000 vet fees within a week.

Staff did not think she would be strong enough to be operated on for another four weeks but her condition improved so rapidly she has had the procedures to remove one eye and treat the other and is now in a new home with four other dogs for company.

During a visit to Holly Hedge, Tanya and Vicky Dagan from Clevedon agreed to foster Annie while she recovered, but, within three days of her being home they decided to permanently adopt her.

Tanya said: “She is such a sweet dog. We just fell in love with her.”

Annie still has to undergo daily baths to treat her skin condition as well as receive eye drops, ear drops and specialist food but it is thought she should fully recover from her ordeal.