AN abandoned dog that was a day away from death will have a happy Christmas in her new home.

Penny the collie-cross made an amazing recovery after she was found severely emaciated in a Worcester park on March 8, this year. It was a member of the public who found her, desperatley ill in King George's Field, Brickfields.

An RSCPA spokeswoman said if she was found just a day later, she would have been dead.

She said: "She must have been someone's pet once but was just disregarded. People must not be ashamed if they can not look after a pet and they need to remember it is a criminal offence to abandon animals."

Penny's story does have a happy ending. After a few days of touch and go at Ambleside Veterinary Surgery in Tolladine Road, she was put on a drip and came back from the brink of death.

She quickly found a loving home and will be enjoying this Christmas with her new family.

They said: "Despite her size she loved to be cuddled. She is very active and plays football.

She can dribble and head the ball like a pro. Penny also likes playing hide and seek with the children. It is difficult to imagine having a better pet for our family. We all look forward to many happy years ahead."

Although Penny's case is a happy one, many others are not so lucky.

The RSPCA is urging Worcestershire pet owners, who may be struggling to cope with their animals, to simply ask for help. The plea comes after the number of abandoned animals in the region was revealed to be shockingly high.

RSCPA Inspector Chris Simpson said: "It's horrific to think that a dog who may have given someone years of loyal devotion should end up discarded or dumped."