HIS bouncing ways almost cost miracle dog Benson his life.

The three-year-old springer spaniel managed to impale himself on the spike of a 4ft metal bird feeder at his Quarmby home.

The deadly spear narrowly missed one of his main arteries and penetrated through to the other side of his thigh.

But his remarkable recovery is now complete after winning two rosettes for flyball.

Owners Rachel and Alastair Newall had to dig their way through heavy snow in a desperate bid to save their beloved pet after the horror accident in February.

Luckily, an experienced surgeon was able to use specialist skills to remove the spear and saved his life.

Rachel said: "It was so scary. Benson very easily could have died in my arms.

"We were both off work because it was knee high with snow.

"My husband went into the garden to feed the birds and Benson just shot out with him. He knocked the bird feeder out and somehow the sharp end went straight through his leg.

"All I heard was a screaming, yelping sound and I rushed outside. My husband was just screaming at me that Benson had a pole through him.

"We got him inside and rang the vets. I could hardly breathe on the phone. There was no blood, but we had no idea of the internal damage it had caused. It was terrible."

The thin post had gone straight through Benson’s thigh and was protruding out the other side.

The couple had to dig their way out of snow at their Woodlea Avenue home to reach the main road.

Rachel travelled in the boot of their estate car to keep Benson – who had the huge spike stuck through him – still until they arrived at Anrich Veterinary Surgery on Wakefield Road, Aspley.

Experienced vet Richard Weston was called from the Wigan branch to carry out the grim task of removing the spear from Benson’s thigh.

X-rays showed it had not damaged any major organs or broken the bone.

Mr Weston said: "I made an emergency dash from Wigan to get here. I was called because I have dealt with a number of odd ones over the years.

"The spike was just sticking out but he didn’t seem in any real pain. He was just uncomfortable when he moved.

"The worry was that we didn’t know if there was any damage to the soft tissue and when you start taking it out, the worry is that you get a lot of blood loss. But there was no damage to the blood vessel or nerves. He was very lucky with the way it happened."

The spike narrowly missed Benson’s femoral artery – one of the main arteries in the body.

Mr Weston stayed with Benson overnight.

Rachel and Alastair desperately hoped he would pull through.

Rachel said: "I cried all the way home and kept waiting for the phone call to say he had not made it.

"When we heard he’d made it through the night we were so relieved."

Benson was allowed home the next day with a cocktail of painkillers and antibiotics.

Practice Manager James Weston said the case showed the importance of having pet insurance.

"The initial operation cost £1,400," he said. "And the extra medication and follow-ups added a further £400 to the bill, but it was all settled by the insurers except for the excess.’’

Benson is now fighting fit again and has returned to his training at The Doghouse Flyball Club in Deighton.