The future is filled with Hope

Staffordshire bull terrier Hope is the picture of health as she enjoys life with her new owners – just a year after being rescued from an "evil" dog beater.

Hope was found almost 4kg underweight, with swelling to her face, fur loss and six fractured bones last March at the home of West Bromwich owner Mark Dixon who beat the two-year-old with a rounders bat at his home in Chartley Road.

Despite her ordeal, Hope has made a full recovery and is now enjoying a new life with owners Raymond and Rose Hill, in Stamford Road, Amblecote, Stourbridge. Ray, aged 59, who works as a car panel beater, and Rose, 62, heard about Hope through a friend.

Before they rehomed Hope, the couples own dogs – bearded collie Monty, aged 15, and 13-year-old greyhound Spike – both had to put down due to old age.

Ray, a father-of-three, said: "We had just lost both our dogs and we just felt so sorry for Hope."

Dixon, aged 23, now of Radnor Green, Hateley Heath, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Hope and failing to provide necessary veterinary care.

He was jailed for 22 weeks and banned from owning animals for life but last week this was reduced on appeal to 20 weeks suspended for two years.