A dogged determination to keep her fellow creatures out of danger has landed a Mitcham hound a prize for snatching a chick from death in a fast-flowing river.
Black Labrador Cassy swam to the aid of day-old chick Lucky, who had been frightened away from her mum by a group of boys.
She carried it to her owner, Averil Wilkinson, who named the chick Lucky and reared it until its release back into the wild this spring.
The decision to enter Cassy for the Supa Dog of the Year 2001 competition was impulsive but rewarding.
As runner-up, the clever dog won £200 for her owner and a years supply of food from organisers Burgess Supafeeds.
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