Six pets with ‘miracle’ survival stories have been named as finalists for the PDSA Pet Survivor Awards 2013 – a competition to find the nation’s pluckiest pets that have beaten the odds to overcome serious illness and injury over the last year. Animal lovers have until 15 December to cast their vote.

Veterinary charity PDSA launched the search for entries in October and was overwhelmed with amazing stories from relieved pet owners. They included pets with cancer, road accident victims, animals suffering near-fatal attacks, fire victims: but every one was an extraordinary account of courage, determination and devotion.

A panel of judges including Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon and TV vet Steve Leonard, along with PDSA vets, had the difficult task of shortlisting just six finalists.   

The winner will be decided by a public vote which is open until midnight on Sunday (15 December). People can vote for their favourite Pet Survivor of the Year by texting ‘vote’ followed by their chosen pet’s name to 70099. Each text will result in a £1 donation to PDSA, plus the cost of your usual network message rate. For the full stories visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor

Vet Steve Leonard said: “Judging this competition was tough as there are so many hard-working vets and owners looking after pets that have really been through the mill. Reading these stories made me very proud of my profession and grateful to work alongside some dedicated animal enthusiasts. Animals so often surprise us with their stoicism and tenacity, and there are so many lessons we could learn from them.”

Another judge, famous animal lover and Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon added: “Judging was so hard. I wanted to give them all five out of five for owners’ devotion and  vets dedication as I believe in each pet’s case the both the owners and vets showed complete commitment to help these little heroes survive!”

The finalists:

Stray kitten Robbie, who now lives in Croydon, was sheltering under an abandoned sofa when it was set alight. He suffered extensive burns to his face, head, leg and paws. Robbie stayed at Broadway Vets in Herne Bay, Kent, for six months, they provided over £10k worth of treatment with appeals in the local media to help raise funds towards this. His new owner, Gill Smith, helped with the fundraising and then offered him a home for life.

Saluki/Lurcher cross Will was rescued from the Yorkshire Dales after being spotted by a group of hikers. He had somehow survived for at least three weeks with a broken leg, no food and no water. He was nicknamed ‘Wufra’ after the Upper Wharfdale Fell Rescue Association, who carried him to safety on a stretcher. He was cared for by Kingsway Veterinary Group in Skipton, and his new owners, Helen and Brian Coates, called him Will due to his amazing will to live.

Border Collie Rex, from Brough in East Riding was hit by a train travelling at around 50mph. His skull was shattered and his left eye was out of its socket. Incredibly, he survived and vets at Swanbridge Veterinary Hospital were able to put him back together, although his left eye couldn’t be saved. His speed of recovery has amazed everyone involved, and his owners, Philip and Caroline Abernethy, plan to take Rex into their local school to highlight the dangers of straying onto train tracks.

Brave bunny Thumper, from Goring-By-Sea near Worthing, was nearly paralysed after he was attacked by a fox and left for dead. With four broken ribs and a neck wound, most rabbits would have died of shock but, incredibly, Thumper battled through the odds with the help of Grove Lodge Vets. Now known as the ‘bionic bunny, owner Emma Miller, continues to give him physiotherapy to help him learn to hop again.

Bengal cat Malteaser, from Ely in Cambridgeshire, was missing for five weeks during the February frosts, when temperatures reached -12C. She was eventually found collapsed on a compost heap with severe frostbite and had lost half her body weight as well as several teeth. At death’s door, she was nursed back to health by Cathedral Veterinary Surgery and daily visits from her owner, Amanda Kayes.

Blue Merle Border Collie Pip, from Clayton-Le-Dale near Blackburn, was in a tragic farming accident – she was sheltering from the sun under a tractor wheel when, hidden from the driver’s view, she was horrifically crushed as the vehicle moved forward. Her pelvis was shattered but with the help of Abbeydale Vets and her dedicated family, who set up a hydrotherapy pool for Pip to swim in daily, Pip made an incredible recovery.

For more information on the PDSA Pet Survivor Awards 2013 and the six finalists visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor

Vote for your favourite Pet Survivor of the Year by texting ‘vote’ followed by your chosen pet’s name to 70099. Each text will result in a £1 donation to PDSA, plus the cost of your usual network message rate.  Voting closes at midnight in Sunday 15 December. Please don’t vote after this time as your vote won’t count but you may still be charged.

The winner will be announced on 22 December.