Stray dogs home is diamond in rough

The Dogs Trust has reported an alarming 60 per cent increase in the number of stray dogs destroyed in the West Midlands over the last year.

But Express & Star video journalist Nicky Butler went along to Sunnyside Kennels in Wolverhampton, where their figures highlight a different story.

Part of Birmingham Dogs home, Sunnyside Kennels opened 11 years ago and relies solely on donations.

They provide a vital role for over 2,000 dogs a year with the majority of them requiring medical attention, creating veterinary bills of around £6,000 a month.

While we were filming, one of those sad cases arrived. A female cross-breed picked up near Cannock Chase that clearly has been starved for some time. She will require several weeks of care until healthy before being re-homed.

On rare occasions, they do receive puppies who equally require veterinary care before re-homing can be allocated.

Over three quarters of all dogs are re-homed, the longest stay ever totalling four months -a glowing statistic. Neglected or abandoned, once at Sunnyside the future for these dogs looks bright.