Kent 50mph dog thrown out of truck 'very lucky to survive', RSPCA says

 The RSPCA said a dog who was thrown from a moving truck was "very lucky to have survived" but was doing well and enjoying life with her adoptive owner.

Bella, who was renamed by her new family on January 28 this year, was found by the side of the road in Yarding, Kent, underweight, terrified and draped in a flea-infested matte coat.

Veterinarians found she was thrown out the window of a truck that was traveling at up to 50 mph.

Inspector Kirsten Ormerod said her team was "surprised" she survived the incident.

"Bella survived being thrown from a moving vehicle at such high speeds and the vets were so concerned she might have suffered an internal bleeding that surgery was performed immediately," she added.

Who the RSPCA has been responsible for has not been resolved.

After being nursed back, Bella was adopted by Jill, her husband Ray and their daughter - a family living near Maidstone.

Jill, who found Bella on the RSPCA's Find Pets website, said: "She's really happy here, always wagging her tail.

"She can be a bit naughty and playful a lot, but we love her for who she is."

The animal welfare charity has launched a summer appeal to "end cruelty to animals", encouraging people to donate.

It receives more than 90,000 calls to its cruelty hotline each month and investigates 6,000 reports of intentional animal cruelty.