A YOUNG dog, once abandoned to fend for herself because she was deaf, has won an award at the national finals of a family pet show. Rosa, a lurcher/terrier cross, was entered by her owner Frances Trewinnard, of Sunnyhill Road, Herne Bay.

Ms Trewinnard, 29, began taking care of the animal when it was six months old. "She had been picked up on the streets and had obviously been scavenging from rubbish bins," she said. "She wasn't house-trained and we had to teach her how to respond to hand signals and learn to sign to us if she wanted something."

Despite the hearing handicap, Ms Trewinnard decided to enter Rosa in her first big competition - the Pal Scruffs contest which saw her placed third in the best cross-breed rescue category.

Ms Trewinnard said: "After the winners were announced they did a lap of honour round the ring and Rosa was so excited she did it on her hind legs," she said. "She's quite a character, a bit naughty but very sweet."

The competition, run in association with the Kennel Club, raised more than £8,000 for the Canine Defence League.