READERS of the Hereford Times have fallen in love with Tilly the abandoned dog - and donated more than £1,500 to make her better.

Tilly was found after being dumped in a field on the outskirts of Hereford and for a while, her future was unclear.

Although Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue could find the friendly dog a home, they were unable to afford the cost of surgery to repair a long standing injury to her right front leg.

The Hereford Times reported her story and within days, the money started pouring in.

The total so far has reached £1,500, with donations coming from readers as far away as Birmingham and Aberystwyth.

Tilly has now had surgery involving the removal of a lump, some bone and all the claws on her right foot.

She has a new home with Solvig Tucker, from the Leominster area, and is making a good recovery, although it will be some weeks before Tilly is able to walk on the affected leg.

She will be kept under observation but vet John Davies is optimistic she will not need more surgery.

Hereford and Worcester Animald Rescue (HWAR), faced with re-homing up to 150 abandoned dogs every year, is delighted with the success story.

Dawn Turner, from Wormelow, who co-ordinates the re-homing process said the readers' response had been staggering and had secured Tilly's future. She will stay with her new owner for the rest of her life but the voluntary group will underwrite any vet's bills.

Money left over will stay in the kitty to help other animals taken in by the group.

Dawn and her husband, Les, work tirelessly for HWAR which was founded a few years ago by Carol Smith, of Bromyard and relies entirely on donations and its own fund raising efforts.

Both Dawn and Carol want to thank Hereford Times readers for their generosity for Tilly and it is hoped she will be attending a HWAR fund-raising event on Sunday, July 31, at Sunray Cottage, Glewstone near Ross-on-Wye.