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When a policewoman heard a "desperate wail" coming from a river during stormy weather she stopped and rescued the three-month-old pup.

The dog was traumatised and there was blood coming from her nose, mouth and paws and there was a swollen wound on the top of her head.

The lurcher pup was shot in the head with a pellet gun and thrown into the river Rhondda .

PC Ceri Hassall, from South Wales Police , helped the dog out of the water and saved her life.

Now, PC Hassall has been presented with an RSPCA Bronze Gallantry Medal for going above and beyond to prevent the puppy from being swept away.

The incident happened in January 2015 at River Rhondda in Porth when she had just finished her night shift and was about to get into her car.

When PC Hassall saw the young puppy struggling to get a foothold she phoned her colleague for help and clambered over.

The dog was treated and recovered well and was later rehomed by an animal charity and was named after her rescuer - Ceri.

'Animal cruelty will not be tolerated'

PC Ceri Hassall said: “It is humbling to receive such a prestigious award for doing something I did not think twice about. I am relieved that my namesake has now been rehomed and is enjoying a life that she deserves.

“Through excellent partnership work with the RSPCA we were able to identify and secure the conviction of the person responsible, and send a strong message that animal cruelty, in any form, will not be tolerated.”

With the help of RSPCA inspector Simon Evans, PC Hassall was able to trace the person responsible, who was taken to court by the RSPCA.

He received 18 weeks imprisonment and a five year disqualification from keeping animals.

RSPCA chief inspector Elaine Spence said: “We are delighted to present PC Ceri Hassall with a Bronze Gallantry Medal. Without her bravery and quick-thinking this puppy would no doubt have lost her grip and been swept away in the river with little hope of survival.

“We were also very grateful for her help in our investigations in this heartbreaking case which resulted in a successful prosecution.”