A THREE-legged dog from Basingstoke has become an animal hero after being named Britain’s ‘Caring Animal of the Year’ at an awards ceremony last week. 

Haatchi, who was rescued from a railway line in East London and now lives in Basingstoke, was honoured at the Daily Mirror and RSPCA’s annual Animal Hero Awards after helping 10-year-old Owen Howkins – one of only 25 people in the world to suffer from Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome, which makes his muscles permanently tense.

The Anatolian Shepherd is credited with changing the youngster’s life for the better and is even is at Owen’s side during painful physiotherapy sessions.

Haatchi himself has had an incredible life, remarkably surviving after being abandoned and hit by a train in January 2012.

The then five-month-old dog lived despite blood loss from his partially severed leg and tail, and somehow managed to crawl to safety.

Speaking at the awards in London’s Grosvenor House, Owen told organisers: “People would stare at me and I would cover my face under my hood.

“But when Haatchi came along, people weren’t staring at me any more. They were staring at Haatchi.

“This award is all for him, not me. He’s my best friend. Everything changed in my life that day I met Haatchi.”

Dad, Will, and stepmum, Colleen, decided a dog might may help Owen, so adopted Haatchi. 

Owen had been difficult about taking his medication, but when he saw Haatchi eating pills, he had to take after the amputation, he took his own without complaint.

It is this connection and zest for life that saw Owen and Haatchi become best friends, and see the youngster come out of his shell.

Will said: “Owen is just an amazing boy, he really is. He is so confident now and full of life. That time when he yelled at the woman, I just laughed and thought, ‘Go on, son’.

“Before Haatchi he would always be very quiet in the chair and just hide. He hated it.”

Colleen added: “The atmosphere in the room changed in an instant. It was if they were old friends meeting each other again, rather than for the first time.”

Rotherwick dog Harley – who helped save the life of a vulnerable old lady suffering from dementia – missed out on being crowned Hero Animal of the Year.

Host Amanda Holden said: “It’s so important to recognise those who selflessly dedicate themselves to animal welfare – as well as the outstanding animals themselves, of course.”