PET owners in the Wee County whose animals have cheated death have been encouraged to enter them into this year’s Pet Survivor competition.

Run by People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), it aims to recognise pets that have been treated for a life-threatening illness or serious injury.

In 2016 the competition was won by Darcy, a cocker spaniel from Dundee who survived a 60ft fall down Glascarnoch Dam.

Despite suffering multiple potentially fatal injuries, the determined dog pulled through – after several operations and many months of treatment and rehabilitation.

And last year’s winner was a black cat called Dexter, who was shot through the mouth in an airgun attack.

Dexter was left with a fractured jaw and a hole in the roof of his mouth, and like Darcy he needed several operations and treatments before recovering.

Olivia Anderson-Nathan, a vet with PDSA, said: “Dexter received the coveted title of Pet Survivor to recognise his incredible survival spirit, his owners’ dedication, and the skill and expertise of all the vets and vet nurses who helped to save his life.

“We’d like to hear from anyone whose pet has an extraordinary story of survival against all odds, or who has cheated death by a whisker.”

The competition winner will be decided by a public vote later in the year. They will receive a trophy, plus a luxury pet hamper worth £200 from the event’s sponsor, Petsurance.

The awards are open to any animal from Clacks or elsewhere that was treated by a vet in the UK for a life-threatening illness or injury between August 1 last year and August 31 this year.

For more, visit pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor.