Crufts dog was found in a sack at Lagan

Seven years ago Becky - a six-week-old pup - was saved by passers-by and adopted by retired teacher Margaret McKnight.

Last weekend she was picked by former Eastenders actress Pam St Clement as the ‘family crossbreed dog of the year’.

The ‘Scruffts’ awards have been going for 12 years but this is the first time they have been part of Crufts.

Margaret, from Bangor, told how the dog had been saved.

“A litter sack was dumped in the towpath near Lisburn and a couple of ladies saw the gentleman leaving the sack and they went over and lifted it,” she said. “The rest is history.

“Assisi animal sanctuary got them all homed and I got the only blonde in the litter, which turned out to be Becky.

Her brother Harvey just lives next door to us. He is very like her but is much darker in colour.

“I had her DNA taken a few years ago and she really is a mongrel of mongrels.

“She has a lovely personality and she is a really friendly dog.

“She is a ‘pets-as-therapy’ dog so she is used to meeting and greeting people.

“We have dogs in the charity who would go into nursing homes, units for people with Alzheimer’s or special schools, all sorts of places where you don’t normally have a dog.”

Margaret also paid tribute to the Kennel Club for introducing the new category for mongrels to the competition.

“This is new, but it is wonderful that they have acknowledged this wonderful variety of dogs that are out there and that make super pets,” she added. “They might not have the breeding but they certainly have the temperament and the good looks.”