A BRAVE dog from West Devon is now safely back at home after being impaled by a metal stake.

Worried owners Mr and Mrs Toop were walking their dog Ben at Horrabridge football field when Ben got a metal stick stuck through his leg.

Claire Davis, A veterinary nurse at Drake Vets in Horrabridge, said: 'We received a phone call from Mr and Mrs Toop regarding their dog. They explained that he had ran onto a large stick and it was now through his leg. As I was the nurse on call I ran down to the football field to assess the situation. On arriving I found that Ben had a 4ft metal stake right through his left hind. I wrapped him up in a blanket and carried him back up to the surgery — with the stake still in his leg.

'Once we got back to the practice the vet on call, Peter Mackellar, re-assessed his condition. Ben was then anaesthetised to remove the stake. It was cut in half using a hacksaw, the wounds were sutured closed and the dog walked out of the practice a few hours later.'

Ben is now recovering well from his traumatic experience.

'Ben has been coming back for regular check ups and is doing really well,' added Claire.

Drake Vets now has a new purpose built surgery at the Leg O'Mutton in Yelverton, that will be opening on December 14.