THE dog that touched the hearts of Comet readers after being found seriously injured at the roadside has found a new home at last. Four weeks ago we exclusively revealed the plight of the snow white Staffordshire bull terrier who was found whimpering at t

THE dog that touched the hearts of Comet readers after being found seriously injured at the roadside has found a new home at last.

Four weeks ago we exclusively revealed the plight of the snow white Staffordshire bull terrier who was found whimpering at the side of the Hertford Road at Bragbury End, Stevenage.

Staff at the Fairlight Veterinary Surgery in Ditchmore Lane named her Petal, while the hunt to find her owner started through The Comet.

Nobody came forward to claim her but dozens of readers offered the bitch a home and offered to help pay for her treatment.

Unfortunately her injuries were so serious she had to be transferred to the Wood Green Animal Shelter in Huntingdon where she underwent extensive surgery to repair a badly fractured leg. Sadly, she had to have the other hind leg amputated.

Staff at the shelter renamed her Smartie and she became a favourite among staff and visitors and even became a star after appearing on television.

Two weeks ago Smartie had recovered from her surgery and finally left the shelter with a new owner for a life in the Suffolk countryside.

Smartie is now at the home of Pam Adams and her family in Sudbury and being smothered in love, especially by her son Freddie, three, and their dog, another Staffordshire bull terrier named Suggs.

"I fell in love with Smartie the day I saw her on TV. I rang the shelter one day saying could I give her a home and was thrilled when I went along and they said I could have her," said Mrs Adams.

"She has settled in very well and loves playing with Suggs and she and Freddie are like two peas in a pod and love being together.

"Smartie has settled in very quickly with us and despite only having three legs is very mobile.

"When she has fully recovered from her operations I am sure she will enjoy long walks in the fields around our home and have a happy life. She deserves it after what she has been through.