THETFORD dog owner Caroline Aldous was thrilled when her faithful pet Duke was voted one of Britain's top dogs in a nationwide search.The Vetzyme Top Dog Award, launched by Seven Seas Pet and Animal Healthcare, proved popular with dog owners across the country.

THETFORD dog owner Caroline Aldous was thrilled when her faithful pet Duke was voted one of Britain's top dogs in a nationwide search.

The Vetzyme Top Dog Award, launched by Seven Seas Pet and Animal Healthcare, proved popular with dog owners across the country.

Caroline nominated Duke after picking up an entry form from her local pet shop, Myhills in Watton.

She said: “After reading about more than 200 dogs needing re-homing when the breeder went bankrupt, I had to go and see the dogs and try to help them.

“When we came across Duke, we could not resist his adorable face so we chose to re-home him.

“After getting him home he was nervous of us and the house as we let him roam around and it was a very different environment than what he was used to when he was locked in an old shed all the time.

“At first he was too scared to go on a walk and had never seen water before. He was so unfit he could only walk 50 yards but we kept exercising him and taught him how to fetch and swim.”

Duke now loves life and loves his trips to the beech and socialising with other people and animals.

Caroline added: “We are so happy and pleased for Duke and that we could help a dog overcome his worst fears.”

As a runner up in the Vetzyme Top Dog of the Year award, Caroline received £100 Argos vouchers and a selection of healthcare products from the Vetzyme range for Duke.