A Defford foster carer for dogs is hoping a new home can be found for a "traumatised" little dog who was abandoned after she became unfit for breeding.

Dusty, a six year-old Bichon Frise female, is thought to have been locked up all her life on a Welsh farm and used for breeding, but was handed into animal shelter Friends of The Animals RCT, in Glamorgan.

She has been in the care of experienced fosterer Margaret Mallett for around two months, and despite showing signs of a past full of neglect, she is coming out of her shell.

Mrs Mallett, who works with the shelter, said: "Dusty is one of the most traumatised ex breeding dogs I've seen. Her big fear is humans, and particularly human hands.

"Many of the ex-breeding girls like a crate to hide in, a safe refuge to watch the world from, but

not Dusty.

"She likes to have walls at the back of her, so nobody can creep up from behind, with a good exit route in front of her.

"Her preference is to be off the ground so she has a better view of incoming dangers, like approaching humans. Her favourite spot in on my old desk in the corner of the room - she now has a bed on there.

"Because of her past experience with people we are looking for a very special home for her.

"She has been so let down by humans, so it is important that she only has positive experiences with people for the rest of her life."

Under Mrs Mallett's care, however, her character is now starting to come out and she often plays with her carer's own dog, Linney.

Despite being tentative around humans, and although progress is quite slow, Dusty is showing signs of approaching Mrs Mallett for attention, and even wagging her tail to greet her.

The pair even won a rosette at a fun dog show that Dusty was not too afraid to attend.

Dusty, who was originally named Cobweb, is even starting to show her true passion for collecting things, and will often carry around her food and water bowls, even after she's polished their contents off.

A spokesman for the shelter said: "All of Cobweb’s current life is about developing, learning and trusting. It will be a daily labour of love to help bring this wonderful girl around but the joy she brings with each small step forward is priceless."

To find out more about fostering Dusty, visit foa-rct.proboards.com

Earlier this year, the "Journal" featured Jack who Mrs Mallet fostered after he was brought over to Turkey. He only had one eye after it seemed he had been shot and left to die on a beach.

Kind hearted readers, along with a competition ran by Mrs Mallett, raised £2,500 for an operation to remove bone embedded behind Jack's eye socket, which became infected.

The four year-old spaniel collie-cross has overcome all his ordeals, and has found a permanent home in the Cotswolds.