A DOG which came to the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in Harefield after reportedly being thrown from a canal bridge in a bin bag has found a new home.

Terrier cross Petal is beginning the new year in her forever home - with a new friend.

Rehoming Centre manager Richard Moore said: “Petal’s is one of those horror stories.

“She was placed in foster care with one of our amazing canine carers, who has provided her with all the love and patience she needs.

“I’m so happy to say that Steven and his wife, Valerie, have decided they simply can’t part with her and have adopted Petal.”

Steven Macdougall, a canine carer - a role funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery – for seven years, said: “Petal came into the centre two days after we lost our cocker spaniel, Ollie.

“I’ve never seen a dog so traumatised. I had this overwhelming feeling she was meant to come home with me, almost [as if] Ollie had stepped aside to make space for her.

“She’s absolutely tiny – the size of a cat – but is actually about seven or eight years old.

“We’ve seen such a lot of improvement, but it was extremely slow going until recently. She would only play when we weren’t in the room. We set up hidden cameras to watch her.

 “She had shown us she really liked to be around other dogs – much more than people – so, after a long time waiting for the right match, we fostered another Dogs Trust dog, Penny.

“I just knew she was the missing piece of the jigsaw in Petal’s rehabilitation. They clicked so quickly we’ve now adopted Penny, too.”

The pair are inseparable and Petal is now gaining confidence at a fast rate.

If you would like to help dogs like Petal and Penny, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/changethetale