by Hayley Robinson

Meet Destiny, the four-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier who survived against the odds.

The name is certainly appropriate. Born without a top lip and unable to feed from her mother, her owners Katrina and Mark Jarvis were advised to put the dog down.

At a day old they were told she was unlikely to live past six weeks but had a 50/50 chance if she was hand-reared.

Katrina, 24, said: "Despite the fact my husband works nights we knew we had to give Destiny a chance."

The couple took the pup back to their family home at Mouat Court, Lordswood, near Chatham where they bottle fed her every two hours. Their efforts paid off as she began to grow stronger by the day.

At three-weeks-old she was diagnosed with pneumonia - but her fighting spirit shone through and she made a full recovery.

Today, she is a lively and friendly dog although half the size she should be at her age. Next month she is expected to undergo constructive surgery on her top lip.

~ Read more news from the Medway area >>>