Owner's life saved by pet dog

Dappy the Staffordshire bull terrier has been hailed a hero after saving the life of his disabled owner in a fire.

Donna Loewy was lying down in the bedroom of her Wordsley home and did not realise that a wooden cabinet in the living room had caught fire after she left her cigarette lighter on it. The smoke alarm had failed to sound.

But six-month-old Dappy kept barking and running into the room until she realised something was wrong and got up. She saw the cabinet on fire but was able to bring the blaze under control herself by pouring jugs of water over it.

Donna, who has spinal problems, said without her faithful pet raising the alarm, the whole house could have gone up.

The 40-year-old said brave Dappy had been rewarded with his favourite treat – pig's ears and noses. "I have no doubt that Dappy saved my life," she said.