A puppy found abandoned and starving in a flat has been given a forever home by the police officer who rescued her.
The Staffie cross, now named Stella, was saved by Metropolitan Police Officer PC Joe Allen in Tottenham in December 2023.
PC Allen was called to the scene at Stellar House after an attentive maintenance worker, abseiling down the exterior of the building, spotted the dog through the window of a 12th floor flat.
After forcing entry, PC Allen the found five-month-old puppy hidden underneath a broken bed frame surrounded by piles of rubbish.
She was severely malnourished and in need of immediate medical attention.
PC Allen said: "Seeing a dog in that state was so shocking and I immediately picked her up and cradled her to make her feel safe."
According to the investigating officers, the flat had been deserted, leaving the dog, then named Chestnut, starving for food.
An assessment by the vet at the time suggested that Chestnut might not have eaten for a month if she had been a healthy weight beforehand.
The vet said that the Staffie cross would likely have starved to death if she had been left even a few days longer.
RSPCA Animal rescue official Lee Ricketts, who attended the address in December, said: "The puppy was incredibly fortunate that the maintenance worker had been working on the external walls of the building, something that would happen very rarely, and that he happened to spot her.
"Without him reporting it to us she almost certainly would have died."
Stella recovered well at one of the RSPCA's hospitals, and is now enjoying a new life with PC Allen.
The police officer said: "She was obviously taken away to get the attention and care she needed, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her and it was clear I needed her in my life.
"We were so lucky to be able to adopt her and she has now been living with my partner and I for two months and is loving her new home.
"I think it was meant to be and she has definitely made our lives better."
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