Crufts bravery award win for three-legged dog Haatchi
A three-legged stray dog which helped turn around the life of a seven-year-old boy has been presented with an award at Crufts.
Haatchi, an Anatolian shepherd dog, won first place in the Friends for Life category at the Birmingham NEC event. His back left leg and tail were amputated after he was tied to a railway line and then hit by a train. He was adopted by the family of Owen Howkins, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, who has a rare genetic condition. Owen has Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, which causes his muscles to be permanently tense. 'Became stronger' Speaking after his nomination last month, Owen said: "I used to be scared of strangers, then Haatchi came along and now I'm not and that's how he changed my life. "I didn't really meet many others with disabilities and felt like the odd one out, which made me really sad. "But when I saw Haatchi and saw how strong he was, even though he only had three legs, I became stronger myself. I love him so much." Haatchi was up against four other dogs for the title of Friends for Life, all selected for their outstanding bravery and devotion to their owners. The Anatolian shepherd dog won after receiving the most votes from the public.