A FLAT coated retriever has received Okeford Veterinary Centre's Braveheart Award for June 2012.

Bark the dog was enjoying a holiday on Dartmoor with his owners when, on the day they were due to come home, they brought him into the centre in discomfort.

X-rays showed a hugely distended stomach full of air, and his colon had moved.

He was anaesthetised and his abdomen opened. Part of his small intenstine had knotted itself, and become gangrenous.

Veterinary surgeon Philip Davies carefully freed and removed the metre-long length of affected intestine, and proceeded to suture together the two healthy ends.

Bark was back to himself in no time, having to be sedated again in his kennel to stop him chewing his intravenous fluid lines.

He is now back with his owners in good health.