A Romanian rescue dog thrown out in a bin bag after being born with much of the right side of his brain missing is enjoying a new life thanks to his loving owners.

One-year-old Grady, who also has eye and hip issues, has been cared for at Davies Veterinary Specialists near Hitchin, overcoming his severe medical conditions to the extent he is running freely with the other dogs he lives with. 

Grady’s new owners, Ally Morris and partner Derek Penn, had intended to foster Grady when he arrived from Romania until he found a new home. However, they fell in love with the crossbreed and decided to keep him.

Ally said: "Grady was thrown out in a bin bag with the rubbish in Romania, but somehow managed to escape, despite his problems.

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"After scans, we discovered Grady had been born with only half of his brain and no blood supply to his right hip, causing the hip joint to be very painful and not functional.

"Of course, we were really shocked to find out Grady had only half of his brain. This was not something we had even considered a possibility, so I think it took everyone involved by surprise, but we had some answers to his unusual behaviour, and were astounded at how this beautiful young boy had survived."

The Comet: Derek and Ally with Grady.Derek and Ally with Grady. (Image: Davies Veterinary Specialists)

Grady - named after dog-loving comedian and TV presenter Paul O'Grady, who died earlier this year - has medication to manage his neurological condition. He has also had the diseased ball of the hip ball-and-socket joint removed, followed by physiotherapy, to cure his lameness.

Ally added: "Grady is doing great. He is pain free now, his wound has healed beautifully and he is walking so much better and not falling over.

"He continues with physiotherapy at home, but he can run freely with our other dogs and enjoy being the unique little dog he is."

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Johnny Plessas, head of neurology and neurosurgery at Davies, said: "Grady, who has been a wonderful patient, came to Davies with a history of seizures and was diagnosed with right hydranencephaly, a congenital anomaly which leads to lack of development of a large part of the brain.

"Medication will keep the frequency of seizures to a low level and he currently has good control."