A POORLY pet whose life was saved by a £1,000 operation has been reunited with her devoted owners.

Despite knowing that she had a hole in her heart, David and Marie Hunter could not help falling for Molly the Jack Russell when she fixed them with her puppy-dog gaze.

So, determined to love her for as long as she lived, they took her from Darlington's National Canine Defence League rehoming centre back home with them to Ingleby Barwick.

Knowing that an operation was the two-year-old bitch's only hope, staff at the centre offered to pay for it.

Mrs Hunter, 58, said she agreed to the risky open heart surgery because it was in Molly's best interests.

"Her breathing was terrible and she had an awful cough," she said.

"From the outset, the Canine Defence League said it would pay for the operation and although it was risky, we knew she would die without it."

Having booked Molly in at Edinburgh's Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital, Mr and Mrs Hunter took her for the operation on Monday.

The grandmother-of-three said it went without a hitch.

"It's certainly an unusual operation for dogs, but it went very well," she said. "I can't praise the hospital staff enough."

Now the dog, who is the favourite playmate of Mrs Hunter's grandchildren, is enjoying her convalescence.

"She's got a little bit of swelling but otherwise she's back to ruling the house as normal," said Mrs Hunter.