An environmental centre has taken another animal under its wing.

Saved - Huggy the Akita with Maureen Taylor at Mistley Place Park Environmental Centre. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (38006-1)

Huggy - a stray dog - was found wandering off a ferry from France and would have been put down if no-one had come forward to claim ownership.

But Maureen Taylor, of Mistley Place Park Environmental Centre, said they were footing the bill while Huggy is kept in quarantine.

She said: "He would have been put down if no-one had come forward, so we decided to adopt him and take on the financial side of things.

"He was in a poor condition when he came off the boat, but he is really making progress now and is looking good."

Huggy is an adult akita - a breed of dog which can sometimes be difficult to handle. But Mrs Taylor said: "Akitas can sometimes be a difficult temperament, but we spent time with Huggy and realised what a beautiful and good-natured dog he is."

Published Wednesday, September 1, 2004

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