IT was the story that shook the world.

After nine poodle-crosses were found dumped in terrible condition in rural Hampshire roads animal-lovers world-wide sprung into action to raise funds for the RSPCA to help them.

Now the charity is thanking the Daily Echo for its contribution to the appeal that helped rehabilitate the dogs and find them new homes.

On Saturday (May 16) the paper will pick up a Local Media Award from the charity's Special Honours Committee at a ceremony in London, after an online fundraising page saw more than £4,300 raised.

It comes during Local Newspaper Week which highlights the role of a community-serving newspaper and celebrates the position each one has to affect a reader - offering them knowledge, insight and ultimately the truth.

Andy Robbins, senior national press officer, nominated the paper.

He said: "I think the Echo's coverage played a massive part in the dogs being rehabilitated and rehomed.

"It was a very unusual incident, to get so many dogs dumped in such horrible condition, and the Echo's coverage put it out there to a wide audience who were quite rightly appalled by what they saw and raised a huge amount of money to help them.

"The story grabbed headlines across the world but the Echo saw how it really affected people. I think the response was that readers don't stand by that behaviour and were shocked by it.

"A number of the dogs have found new homes now and a lot of that is down to coverage in the Echo and ongoing support that the paper and its readers have given to these animals - without that who knows where they would be now?"

Daily Echo: One of the dogs now

The RSPCA awards recognise those that go above and beyond the call of duty in protecting animal welfare and preventing cruelty.

The family of nine dogs were found with their fur severely matted with debris and mud in country lanes in Upham, Owslebury, Alresford and on Winchester's Morestead Road.

It took vets around three hours per dog to remove the hair, which in total weighed around 95 kilograms.

Inspector Jan Edwards worked with the animals from the day they were found, in January, and at the time said it was one of the worst cases of neglect she had ever seen.

They were cared for in RSPCA centres across Hampshire, including the Ark in Stubbington, Mount Noddy near Chichester and Ashley Heath.

The charity is no closer to finding who dumped the animals.

Just one dog, Will, is yet to find a permanent home. He is currently at Ashley Heath in Ringwood.

Anyone who would like to re-home Will should call Ashley Heath Animal Centre on 0300 123 4999.