Abandoned dog rescued hours from death

A DOG just hours from death after she was locked in a filthy house with no food and water is loving life with the vet who nursed her back to health.

- BY LUCY JOHNSTON Social Affairs Editor

Springer spaniel Floss was found starving by RSPCA officers in a rubbish-strewn home in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

A Mastiff dog called Alice, who had been Floss's companion, was found dead in the same property.

It comes as RSPCA figures showed animal neglect has reached a five-year high in Britain, with cases up by 28% last year. The charity now receives 17 neglect reports an hour when its cruelty line is open.

Despite being emaciated, dehydrated and covered in fleas, Floss wagged her tail when her rescuers arrived. As inspectors searched the house to check whether any other animals were inside they opened a bathroom door and the springer spaniel ran straight in and drank ravenously from a bowl of water, highlighting just how long she had been deprived.