The 11-month-old terrier cross was born with a heart defect which, if undetected, could have proved fatal.

But thanks to the work of veterinary surgeon Tamsin Humphrey, little Kita, from Birkenshaw, looks set to live a long and healthy life.

Tamsin, of Yorkshire Vets at Thornbury, said: "She had a heart murmur that she was born with. If left untreated, they get heart failure and most dogs die within a year.

"The surgery took two to three hours and she has recovered remarkably well. She's quite bright, she can walk and hopefully we can send her home and she will be back to normal after a week or so."

Kita's condition is said to be rare and the large surgery, on Bradford Road, has only seen one other operation like this in the last eight years.

Roger Wilkinson, who is one of nine vets to run the practice, said: "It is rare but if she can get through the next few days she should have a normal life."