Crufts: Time running out to vote for disabled Highland boy’s Miracle

Members of the public have just a few hours left to ensure that a special bond between a severely disabled Highland boy and his dog is recognised at the annual Crufts extravaganza.

The little dog, called Miracle, is on a short-list for a prize in a celebration of heart-warming stories of friendship in adversity.

The crossbreed was saved by Inverness woman Amanda Leask from a ship bound from Thailand to Vietnam, where he would have been served up for human consumption.

The pet has now bonded with her six-year-old son Kyle, who has cerebral palsy and autism.

She now has 40 dogs at her husky centre near Strathglass, and nine of them were saved from certain death in southeast Asia and Romania.

Miracle is on a shortlist of four pets, vying for a top-dog award at this weekend’s Crufts Show.

A public vote on the Crufts website, ending at midnight tonight, will decide which of the four merits a cash prize that their owner can donate to charities of their choice.

The winner will be announced on Sunday.

If Miracle wins, Ms Leask hopes to divide the spoils between cerebral palsy, autism and animal welfare charities.