Pet collie Zeus almost lost his life by jumping into a brook filled with broken bottles thrown in by vandals.

When 14-month old Zeus emerged from the brook at Cholsey playing fields he was pouring blood from a severed artery in his back leg and damaged tendons.

Only emergency treatment by vets saved its life, said his owner, Cowley newsagent John Robinson.

"The gash was very severe, the dog almost died," said Mr Robinson, of Wilkins Road, Cowley. "It all started with a nice evening country walk with my daughter Stephanie Ratcliff who lives in Cholsey, and our three dogs.

"Zeus loves water and leapt straight in.

"When he came out we noticed the blood and realised how severe the cut was.

"A vet from Larkmead surgery in Cholsey operated immediately and it is thanks to him the dog's life was saved," said Mr Robinson.

When Mr Robinson checked the brook, he found broken bottles in the stream bed. "I have been told that Zeus is not the only dog to have been hurt in this way.

"The culprits are certainly the yobs who smash bottles and toss the glass into the stream.

"It is thoughtless, mindless and dangerous - children as well as animals like to paddle in water."

He says he hopes publicity about Zeus will forewarn other dog owners about the dangers at Cholsey brook.

Zeus is a fit dog and is recovering quickly - his dressings are now off and he is walking reasonably well again, says Mr Robinson.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.