Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners. Poor Victoria was so ravaged by cancer that she had torn off her own ears by the time she was discovered wandering the streets by a passer-by distraught at her obvious plight. At first it was thought she had been mauled by a dog but on closer inspection by a vet it became clear the pain of the tumours had been so severe the little black and white cat had made a desperate bid to escape the agony. Victoria was found walking the streets of Newent, Gloucs., and handed over to charity workers at the New Start Cat Rescue Centre who took her in and paid for an operation on her ears. It is costing them thousands of pounds to rehabilitate her but volunteers there say the affectionate feline deserves a new chance at life..
FLEXING his muscles and staring straight at his opponent, this bodybuilding squirrel is the nuts .
Blonde teen Jess Stubbs has certainly got girl power - as Britain’s youngest TRUCKER .
With blue waves tumbling over them, these surfers glide underneath a tunnel of water .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
Primed and ready for action, this collection of striking images from the battlefield could be mistaken for authentic photos taking during World War II .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
WITH a paw in the air and his tongue hanging from his mouth, it is clear to see that this little groundhog is struggling to wake up and leave behind the comfort of his burrow .
This cheeky macaque gets up close and personal as he examines the dental hygiene of his fellow primate .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
A photographer from the United Arab Emirates travelled to Pakistan where he captured the lives of local people in a series of expressive portraits .
FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters .