Grooming your pet can be a good bonding time

Bringing home a new pet over a holiday has its pros and cons, but supposing you are waking up to a puppy tomorrow, one of the first things you may have to tackle is keeping your little pet clean.

Dogs aren't capable of keeping themselves pristine the way cats do, so usually their human family gives a hand with grooming. However, if you're the type of person who thinks that a bath is a good start, be warned: this may not be a great idea.

Yin Tan, owner of Yin Mobile Pets Grooming Service in the Klang Valley, has been a pet groomer since 2014, and is certified by the Malaysian Kennel Association, Malaysian Groomers Association, and International Society of Canine Cosmetologists, USA.

"Having a bath can be frightening, and as pets will be nervous about being in a new environment with new people, you need to wait until they've settled down," Tan advises. "How long that takes, depends on the dog. A sign they trust you is when they come when you call, and let you hug them and pick them up without crying or barking.

"Also, talk to your vet. If your pet has just had a vaccination or flea treatment, you may need to wait. So get good advice."

While suds are out, a brushing session is a great idea, according to Max Kek, a groomer since 2003 and now owner of Do Do Pet, an ethical pet supply shop and groomer in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

"When you first brush your pet, he will wriggle and you may still be learning, so it won't be easy," he smiles. "You should try, though, because this is where you are building a relationship."

A short-haired dog is simple to maintain. Buy a soft bristle brush, and lean it gently against your pet's flank. Then brush, following the coat. Brush the lower back and flank, the move forward, do the chest, and finish with the tummy.

It's like being petted, so your dog should love it. However, pawpits and tummies are often ticklish.

Also, if your dog is shy, he may be afraid of lying on his back. This is because dogs feel very vulnerable when in that position. So take it slow and if your dog is nervous, stop, praise and leave it till next time. When every experience is positive, your pet will learn to relax and trust you.

For playful pups, expect to have the brush bitten and the session turn into a wrestling match. Be gentle!

Long-haired dogs are more complicated because feathery coats can be thick, layered and need special care.

"You can't use a human comb as they're not tough enough," Kek points out. "You need a doggy comb. Prices start around RM20."

Remember when you were a kid and you squealed when your mum combed the knots out of your hair? Long-haired dogs are prone to tangles and it hurts to have them combed out, too.

Groom your pet gently, starting at the flank, just like brushing a short-haired pet. If there are small tangles, hold the fur above the tangle with your fingers, to minimise tugging.

While you groom, talk nicely to your dog. Make it a loving session aimed at bonding, not a chore.

You should be combing a long-haired dog every day, but even then, the occasional knot is inevitable.

"You can't ignore knots because they pull on the skin, leaving it red and painful," Kek warns. "They have to be dealt with. Comb it out if you can. But if it's a bad tangle, you may need to cut it out. If you've never seen it being done, then go to the groomer and get a lesson."

After a week or two, when you and your dog have bonded and there's trust between you, you can start to think about bathing your pet. Short-haired dogs are easy as they dry fast. Just be certain to use a very mild shampoo that preserves the skin and natural oils.

As long-haired pets may have difficult coats, do consult a groomer first to see if you need special gear. You don't actually need to sign up for a bath; you can book a consultation where you get a lesson in what needs to be done.

"I'm always happy to teach," Tan says. "We all are, I think." And Kek agrees.

For that first bath, make sure you are working at a height you're comfortable with and have all your gear ready. You don't want to be searching for a towel with soaked pup in your arms!

"When you wash your pet, always start with the back of the body, and go slowly," Tan cautions. "Your furbaby may be frightened. Soap gently, and rinse carefully.

"The head is the most sensitive part of the dog, so whatever you do, don't start there. You don't want to get soap in their eyes or nose. In fact, if you want, leave the face, and just wipe afterwards with a damp cloth."

When you're done, stand back. Dogs with a fresh, clean coat tend to be frisky and ready for a game. So be prepared for zoomies, lots of barking and a happy face. If they've had your vaccinations, go to the park and play a bit of fetch.

Merry Christmas!

Meghan Markle has already charmed the Queen's corgis, Harry reveals

Meghan Markle has already charmed the Queen's notoriously unfriendly corgis, Prince Harry has revealed. He laughed as he described the moment he introduced Miss Markle to the Queen, saying the dogs took to her straight away.

"I've spent the last 33 years being barked at - this one walks in, absolutely nothing," he said. "Just wagging tails - and I was just like, argh."

Miss Markle added: "Just laying on my feet during tea. It was very sweet."

The 36-year-old American confirmed that one of her other great loves, her rescue dog, had moved to London with her.

She said Guy, a five-year-old labrador-shepherd cross, had arrived in the UK from their former home in Toronto several weeks ago.

Her other dog, Bogart, a six-year-old beagle, had remained in Canada with close friends.

"I have two dogs that I've had for quite a long time, both my rescue pups," she said.

"And one is now staying with very close friends and my other, little Guy, is - yes he's in the UK, he's been here for a while. I think he's doing just fine."

Miss Markle has described the dogs as "my boys," and said they “mean the absolute world" to her. They have made repeated appearances on her Instagram account, where she advocates adopting dogs in need of a home with the hashdag #adoptdontshop.

It was American comedian and chat show host Ellen DeGeneres who convinced the actress to adopt Bogart - her first pet - after she bumped into her in a shelter.

"She turns around and comes and taps on the window glass and she yells 'Take the dog!' And so I brought him home. Because Ellen told me to," she has said.

It has been claimed that Miss Markle declared Kensington Palace as her place of residence in early summer when she signed the "Notice 3" form, which is the Customs paperwork for the dogs.

Pets have to to be micro-chipped, given a rabies vaccination and a blood test 30 days later to secure a move to the UK.

Choi Siwon Reportedly Attacked By His Own Pet Dog When He Was On Military Leave

Recently, the accident that the pet dog of Super Junior's Siwon causing death to a neighboring woman has been gathering much attention from public and media.

Due to the shocking accident, the singer was even asked to drop out of his new drama titled Revolutionary Love. It is reported that the heartthrob also decided to sit out from Super Junior's recent fan event, which took place on October 23 and 24 in Japan.

On October 24, according to a local outlet, one of Choi's colleagues revealed that the idol was even bitten by his own pet when he was on his military leave. He said: “Choi Siwon went on leave and when he returned, he had a band-aid on his nose. He said his dog had bitten him.”

During his military service, the Super Junior member was usually the host of police ambassador's concerts. However due to his facial injury caused by his dog, the idol was not able to participate the event for a month. After that, he had to make an apology to other colleagues for affecting the event's schedule. Moreover, during that time, Choi's position in performances was also changed from the center to the edge of the stage.

Handmade With Love – Bridal Accessories From New Zealand

Now I know of late we've been showcasing lots and lots of beautiful new bridalwear collections but today, we're all about adorable finishing touches for your wedding day ensemble.

Yes indeed, this feature is an indulgent look at the glorious new bridal accessories collection from the incomparable Missy Dress. From their gorgeous boutique and workshop in  From New Zealand, the small talented team creates all of their bridal accessories by hand.

Missy Dress offer extraordinary service and whether you're purchasing online or treating yourself to a dedicated appointment in the boutique, you'll be spoilt from start to finish. Missy Dress's collection includes the most beautiful hair vines, headbands, combs, pins, belts, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and even gorgeous gifts for bridesmaids.

We're always adding to our collection and these new designs are inspired by our wonderful brides.

As our veils are ever popular, we wanted to expand the choice we offered to our brides so we've added a few different edging options with a beautiful simply braided edge in Nyla and a more statement horsehair edge veil with Atlas .

We've also had a play with our lace placement and have created a few cut edge veils with lace around the train like Poppy. These appeal to brides who still want lace but don't want their veil to detract from their dress.

Our Juliet cap veil collection has also been expanded and these veils are so popular with 1920s and 1930s style dresses. One of our favourite new designs is Saffron, a two-comb drape veil in silk style tulle. We also offer the option to personalise your veil so you can have your initials and wedding date hand embroidered to any part of your veil to make it extra special.

Veils can be a bit tricky to understand at first so we've written a comprehensive guide to wedding veils, which you can find on our website, and we always recommend brides buy our lace and tulle samples as colours on screen can vary from real life!

For our boho style brides, we've expanded our vine collection with some really intricate pieces like Mila, Sadie and Lori (pictured in that order below). These hand wired pieces take hours to make but we think the effect is worth it.

We've also created Lorna with a little bit of sparkle and this piece can be woven through your tresses so you just get glimpses of sparkle – a lovely effect. The Ginger vine is more of a glamorous piece and looks beautiful pinned to the side for real wow factor.

Our new jewellery includes bracelets, statement necklaces, back drop necklaces and earrings. We're really excited about our lariat back drop necklaces and they look amazing with a backless dress or our Saffron drape veil.

Jewellery is a great way to add your something blue' without going overboard. We love these sweet flowers with a tiny Swarovski ‘something blue' crystal twinkling in the centre.”

Lots of our brides have requested a greater range of belt designs so we have created the Avani belt, the silver leaves are such a favourite with brides, and Rylee, which is a classic bridal combination of crystals and pearls. There are more to come so watch this space!

I think our favourite piece from the new collection has to be River, a lovely head chain design and we can't wait to see lots of lovely brides styling this in lots of different ways. However, we're adding new pieces to the collection all the time so there's lots get excited about!

Pet swap: are chickens really the new dogs?

Are you a dog person or a chicken person? It is, by some accounts, the question bouncing around the gardens and smallholdings of the UK as more established pets cry “fowl” over a chicken coup. No longer happy to employ poultry as egg suppliers, we are reportedly embracing them as pets, with names and roaming rights.

“I keep finding eggs in the cat basket!” says Lucy Deedes of her own avian interlopers, Mrs Rochester and Miss Bates. The hens live in Deedes' Sussex garden but enjoy coming inside (the kitchen is off-limits lest the birds endanger the council hygiene rating Deedes requires for her marmalade business.

Hen expert Kathy Shea Mormino, AKA the Chicken Chick, says in her new book, The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens, that new owners, like her, soon realise hens make good companions. “It was a shock to me when I started giving them names,” she told the LA Times. Deedes, 62, agrees: “If I'm lying in the garden on a sunny day they come and flop beside me and when the dog jumps in the car to go somewhere, I'll see the chickens standing there thinking, ‘shall we hop in, too?'” She does not walk her hens but did once incubate a rejected egg in her bra; she says it hatched while she queued at the post office. But are chickens really the new dogs? Britain's domestic fowl population has been a fairly stable 500,000 since 2010, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association's annual survey (about the same as guinea pigs, but no threat to our 8.5m dogs). But anecdotal evidence of warming relations is rife, and is expected to grow after the release of Pecking Order, a documentary set inside New Zealand's cutthroat show hen scene (think Crufts with clucks).

“A lot more of our members are treating them as pets, particularly those with young children,” says Pedro Moreira, chair of the Surrey Poultry Society. “They're very sociable animals and all have their own characters and routines.” He advises would-be hen-keepers to first consult neighbours and the council (they're classed as livestock and not always allowed in gardens) and to research coop size.

Deedes says her hens have passed peak egg production, but she has no plans to dispatch them. Meanwhile, her friends are getting chickens, too.

“One has a hen called Sir Cliff, because she looked like a shirt Cliff Richard once wore,” she says, before getting back to her marmalade.

Are Dogs Probiotic?

Archaeological records suggest we've been close with our pets for some time: About 10,000 years ago we started to co-habitate with cats drawn to the well-fed rodents scurrying around our farms. In ancient Egypt millions of pet dogs were buried in elaborate tombs adorned with expensive gifts and inscriptions. As a result, we've likely been swapping cuddles and microbial critters with domesticated animals for many generations.

Today those pets are clearly still at home in our homes. And plenty of headlines tout that beyond snuggles and companionship our four-legged friends offer other benefits—like improved mental and physical health.

But not so fast. A rash of recent research presents a more muddled picture of what pets bring into our lives—from microbe swaps that can alter our gut environment to emotional well-being. Just consider the family dog: Fresh from a romp through the woods or an inquisitive sniff of a butt or two, he will impart a nip, nuzzle or slobbery smooch—perhaps transferring legion microbes with each encounter. Current science suggests that might be a good thing—but only for some of us.

First, let's talk allergies. Numerous works tell us that having a dog appears to reduce rates of pet allergies if first exposure takes place very early in life. Many microbiome researchers believe those exposures to pets' microbial milieu during infancy—in the form of pet dander—may specifically train the immune system to deal with pets and other allergens. (The theory goes: without those early exposures to certain bugs and infectious agents the natural development of the immune system is essentially stunted.) But as one May 2017 study of thousands of kids and adults concludes, the timing of such exposures appears to be key: When first pet exposures occur as a teen or young adult, risk of pet allergy actually appears to increase.

There's more bad news: Pets can also cause other problems. Lizards and turtles can carry salmonella. Parrots can carry the causative agent of psittacosis—which causes severe pneumonia in humans. And evidence has accrued that many of our furry friends can carry serious infectious agents including "superbug" MRSA, giardia, and other pathogens and parasites.

Even our modern understanding about the mental health benefits from pet ownership continues to evolve. For many decades there was widespread acceptance about the mental health benefits of unwinding with a pet. But that picture was complicated by a 2010 study of nearly 40,000 people in Sweden that found pet owners were physically healthier than those without pets yet they suffered from more mental health problems than their sans-pet peers. Now the science remains unsettled about who may benefit from pet ownership or even why such relationships could help.

We do know pets help us get outside to play or walk them, which increases physical activity. Some of these positive effects may be mediated by microbiome changes in response to decreased cortisol levels, but scientists are still looking for definitive answers, says Rob Knight, who studies these questions at the University of California, San Diego.

What about other physical health benefits? Several research groups are looking into that now. In one ongoing study Knight and collaborators have asked 17 lucky senior citizens to agree to be randomized to receive a dog or not. Then they (and the dogs) submit to months of regular health checkups and share their poop with researchers who map out its microbial makeup. Knight's group plans to have some results from this study in the next year.

Meanwhile other research groups are also looking for connections between pet ownership and obesity—exploring if certain microbial swaps might help or hurt the midlines of pets and people. Current evidence actually suggests heavier people have heavier pets—a puzzling phenomenon, which some scientists believe could be due to microbial swaps that go in the person-to-pooch direction. It may sound far-fetched but there are some early hints that "fat" microbe transfers are possible: Studies in the past few years do suggest we can make mice fatter or thinner by transferring microbes from fatter or thinner people to them.

Personally, though, right now I'm not counting on any big benefits from pet ownership except looking into those adorable puppy eyes. For me, that's enough.

Your Dog Can Easily Learn How to Dial 911 and Save Your Life

In the pet adoption world the phrase, "Who rescued who?" is popular. Pets bring so many positive things into our lives, it can seem like they are the ones who saved us. Now, it turns out they really can.

Melody Jackson, an associate professor and director of the animal-computer interaction lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and her team are working on finding new ways dogs can help their owners during medical emergencies, reports CNN.

One of their most recent developments is a touchscreen designed for dogs to use during an emergency. Jackson has found that canines can be trained to use this device, which is similar to a telephone, to contact help when they see their owners fall or when they hear a specific signal from their human.

"The dog could go over to a touchscreen and touch a series of icons on the touchscreen and call 911 with your location," says Jackson, who was inspired to start the FIDO Project at Georgia Tech, after her grandmother fell and could not reach anyone for help. "We think that, literally, this could change lives, make lives so much better, and be a life-saver."

Along with improving communication between dogs and humans, Jackson also works as a dog trainer, and is confident that the touchscreen her team is working on will be easy for dog owners and their companions or service pets to learn.

"A medical alert dog may need to summon 911 for their person who is having a seizure. Or a military working dog might need to tell their handler what kind of explosive they just found," she said. "The dogs had no way reliably to do this. So we started focusing on technology to allow working dogs and specifically service dogs to communicate."

Jackson and her team have already trained several dogs to approach the touchscreen and press three different buttons when they hear the 'help' command. In the real world, this action would trigger the device to call a preprogrammed emergency contact like a family member or 911.

This command requires three buttons to prevent accidental bumps and misdials. From the color of the buttons to the size of the device, FIDO Project has designed everything about the touchscreen to be dog-friendly.

Along with this touchscreen, FIDO Project is also working on a vest for dogs that comes equipped with an emergency cord either owners or pets can pull. When activated, this cord would be able to call emergency contacts, or play a pre-recorded message to alert others in the area. This last option would be especially helpful to diabetic alert dogs and seizure detection dogs, allowing them to tell bystanders that their owner is having a seizure and in need of help.

The future of health care is looking optimistically furry!

Pet dogs are the new must-have accessory at the smarter office

After a half-hour walk to work each morning, Joy likes to grab a drink and head to her desk … where she promptly curls up underneath it and has a nap.

Joy is an eight-month-old golden retriever and she goes to the office with her owner, Carol DuPuis. These days, especially at tech companies, you're as likely to find a dog in the office as you are a pot plant or watercooler. For startups particularly, allowing dogs is an easy, cheap way of attracting and retaining millennials, on top of the free snacks, pinball machines and gym membership.

The Google code of conduct states "affection for our canine friends is an integral facet of our corporate culture". At Amazon, around 2,000 employees have registered their pets at its headquarters in Seattle so they can take them in – reception desks are stocked with biscuits, some water fountains are set at dog height, and there's an off-leash park – also open to the public – where staff can exercise their pets.

DuPuis is a partnerships manager at ReachNow, a US car-sharing app. "My favourite part about bringing Joy into the office is the joy she brings to my colleagues – pun intended. It's tough not to love the puppy energy, it just feels so nice," she said. Joy spends part of her day sleeping, but she also joins DuPuis for meetings and likes to sniff around for bits of peanut butter pretzel that have fallen on the floor.

Gemma Huckle, head of content and culture at London brands agency Rooster Punk, knows all about the pleasure dogs can bring. Her French bulldog, Amelie, has changed the mood in the office since her arrival two years ago.

Huckle said: "She's made it feel like a home from home: the atmosphere is warmer and more sociable. If someone's feeling a bit down in the dumps or stressed out, they usually come and see the dog. Just five minutes pampering or playing with her seems to perk everyone up. Having the dog is also great for our physical health, as it gives everyone an excuse to get out of the office and get some air."

Amelie was crowned StartPup 2016 after Rooster Punk shot a video of her in the office and entered her in the world's first competition to find the best dog belonging to a startup. Huckle recommends having dogs at work. "It helps staff bond and I think it reinforces positive work behaviours – people seem to be more friendly and approachable."

Around 8% of US and UK employers allow dogs at work. A 2016 survey by Banfield pet hospital found that 82% of employees feel a greater sense of loyalty to pet-friendly companies, 88% think pets at work improve morale and 86% say they reduce stress.

Laura Wolf, global content manager at digital creative agency Possible, based in Seattle, said her chihuahua-dachshund mix, Boomer, is a "real morale booster". She also helps break the ice with new colleagues. "You get to know people through your dog, people stop to cuddle her. She'll sit on my lap during meetings; sleep next to my desk while I'm working; visit colleagues she knows who'll give her a treat."

Being able to take dogs to work was a major perk, Wolf said. "Younger people are getting married way later and choosing to have a pet instead of a child early on. Doggy daycare is expensive and it's great to have that flexibility of being able to take your dog around with you.

"It's beneficial to the company as well. The likelihood of people having to leave to get home to their dog or come in late because they're walking their dog is much less."

Companies have rules to ensure workplaces are safe, especially for staff or clients with allergies. At Possible, for example, dogs must be vaccinated, they can't be aggressive or run around off-leash, and they are asked not to return if they foul the office more than three times.

In the UK, dogs have long been going into offices in the pet sector, such as Pets at Home, Mars Petcare and the charity Blue Cross, and they are becoming welcome at other types of businesses too, for example model agency Next Management and online retailer Firebox.

In the US firms such as Ben & Jerry's and Build-a-Bear Workshop allow dogs, and the idea is spreading to the public sector. The department of the interior is to trial take-your-dog-to-work days, the first federal government office to do so. Dogs are also becoming more common in places such as dental surgeries, boutiques and hair salons.

Dentist Cameron Garrett and his wife Debra, a hygienist, take their elderly rescue dog, Karma, to their practice in Corte Madera, California. Debra said: "Some of our patients are dental-phobic and say that having Karma on their lap makes all the difference – and many more just like dogs.

"Karma keeps me calm too and makes my day feel that much nicer. I'm dental-phobic myself. I needed a filling recently and bought Karma with me and it does help. I know from both sides of the chair."

Why owning a pet dog can help parents have a healthy baby

Having a pet dog during pregnancy and just after birth can help reduce the child’s chances of developing allergies and becoming obese in later years, according to a new medical study.

Microbes found in the fur of man’s best friend lead to two types of friendly bacteria in humans that are associated with a lower risk of both allergies including asthma and obesity.

But the timing could be vital, particularly to get the bacteria working early in life, said researchers for the specialist journal Microbiome.

It found that having a dog around while the baby is in the womb and for three months after birth increases the likelihood of these bacteria working.

The theory with allergies is a long established one. Children who are exposed to dirt and bugs end up developing an immunity to them, so it is good to get them to play outside when young.

Now epidemiologists from the University of Alberta in Canada have connected the same effect to families with pets and, in particular, dogs.

They studied stool samples from 746 children that were collected as part of a government health programmes over two decades.

They found higher levels of gut microbes Ruminococcus and Oscillospira in those children whose family had a pet and in 70 per cent of cases, a dog.

The microbes are microorganisms or bacteria that live in the digestive tracts of both humans and animals and are linked to lower levels of allergies and obesity.

Researcher, pediatric epidemiologist Anna Kozyrskyj, said: “There’s definitely a critical window of time when gut immunity and microbes co-develop, and when disruptions to the process result in changes to gut immunity.”

The microbes may be passed from animal to human by stroking the fur or simply being in the same environment and can even affect an unborn baby during pregnancy.

Kozyrskyj added: “The abundance of these two bacteria were increased twofold when there was a pet in the house.”

Even if the family owned a dog during pregnancy but gave it away before birth, it increased the chances of the baby having the immunity.

And for those who don’t like dogs and want the same effect, the research may provide a way of developing a ‘dog in a pill’ to help children develop an immunity to allergies and obesity.

Kozyrskyj said: “It’s not far-fetched that the pharmaceutical industry will try to create a supplement of these microbiomes, much like was done with probiotics.”

'Hero' street dogs in India help catch criminal

Two street dogs in the south Indian city of Chennai (Madras) have become the unlikely heroes of a stabbing incident after helping apprehend the perpetrator.

The two chased down and bit a man accused of stabbing one of his former colleagues on the roadside in what police describe as a "revenge attack".

Locals were then able to catch the man, identified as R Raghunath.

The victim is currently receiving treatment for abdominal injuries.

Police say Mr Raghunath attacked the woman because he had lost his job after she accused him of sexual harassment.

The man who looks after 735 dogs

The spoilt stray dogs of Delhi

"When they bit him, he could not run because his focus was on the dogs. That is when I and other members of the public got hold of him until the police came and took him away,'' S Raman, a rickshaw driver who takes care of the dogs, told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi.

Mr Raman said that the dogs, both of whom are named "puppy", chased the man after the victim, who was stabbed in the stomach, started screaming.

Natasha Chandy, a Bangalore-based Canine Counsellor, told BBC Hindi that the dogs' behaviour was not surprising.

"Dogs on the streets are highly instinctive. They can sense stress and read body language very well. In this case, the dogs may have sensed something wrong, especially if the lady screamed when she was stabbed,'' she said.

She added that it was also not unusual for dogs to go to the rescue of those who are hurt. But, she said that it was also highly likely that the animals' "chase instinct" kicked in because the man ran away.

Hull dog owner Trevor Jackson gives pet dog Princess the kiss of life

An east Hull man has told how he gave his greyhound the kiss of life when she suffered a heart attack.

Trevor Jackson, 57, was walking his pet, Princess, in the streets around his home in Southcoates Lane on Thursday, January 26 when she suffered a sudden heart attack and collapsed.

Fearing for her life, Trevor flagged down the first car he could find. He says two women, possibly in their 20s, stopped immediately in New Bridge Road and drove him straight to a nearby vet while he gave his pet mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the back of the car.

More news: Why this photo touched a Hull shopper's heart

After a check-up Princess has now been given the all-clear but Trevor was told that she was just minutes from death.

Bookie Trevor now wants to track down the women who helped them so he can express his gratitude in person.

"I just want to say 'thank you' to them," he said. "It's really quite emotional for me really. It's a memory I've got for life now, and I don't want to not know who it was who helped me.

"It was really scary. I could see straight away that Princess was dying and her face was turning blue in the car. I was just desperately trying to keep her awake."

He said he feared for Princess' life after she collapsed.

"It was around 4.30pm when it happened and I had to get out of the car and run the rest of the way because you can imagine what the traffic was like on Holderness Road at that time," he said.

"I took her straight into the vets and they gave her an injection, medication, some fluids and oxygen.

"I took her for a check-up on Thursday and she's been given the all-clear. There's no lasting effect. I couldn't be more pleased.

"There was no time to stop and talk to the women, but they've helped save her life. The vets told me that she was minutes away from dying."

Non-verbal six-year-old boy and deaf dog learn to communicate using sign language

A six-year-old boy who cannot speak and a deaf dog are a “match made in heaven”, according to the boy's mother.

Connor Guillet is able to communicate with three-year-old boxer Ellie using sign language and has become inseparable from the affectionate rescue animal since the family took her in a week before Christmas.

Connor, who was adopted at four weeks old, was born addicted to opiates, and has since been diagnosed with damage to his brain and nervous system, in addition to a chromosomal disorder called DiGeorge syndrome, and autism.

“Connor is severely delayed psychologically, physically and emotionally,” Ms Guillet told CBS News.

“He is nonverbal and requires speech therapy. It is unknown whether he has the ability to speak with a limited vocabulary.”

Since he also has issues with motor skills, even using sign language is difficult for Connor, but his mother said Ellie is adept at understanding.

The family, from Florida, already had an eight-year-old boxer when they were contacted by a rescue centre in late December, which said it had a deaf animal that only responded to sign language available for adoption.

“I had a lightbulb go off immediately,” Ms Guillet said. “To think that Connor can sign to her and actually communicate with her made my heart melt.”

Connor and his mother met the dog the next day.

“That was it,” Ms Guillet said, adding that Connor petted, kissed, and hugged the dog, who responded by licking the child.

“She was beyond gentle with him,” Ms Guillet said. “Boxers are known to be great with kids, but there is something definitely special about Ellie.”

Ms Guillet agreed to foster the dog to see how she would interact with Connor at home. The pair quickly became inseparable.

They play tug of war, run up and down the slide in the back garden and cuddle on the couch together, Ms Guillet said, adding that, finally, Connor has found a friend he can relate to.

“It warms my heart like nothing else,” said Ms Guillet, adding that she is now going to adopt Ellie and "make her a permanent member of the family".