A little dog has become "chief fundraiser" for a charity using a circus trick which saved his life.

Clapper was found abandoned on the streets of Derby in 1997.

Vets thought it was best to have him put down but as the scruffy corgi-cross lay on the operating table he leapt up and began clapping.

The trick saved his life and since then he has used his talents to raise money for the Just for Dogs charity as well as fronting health and safety drives and recycling projects.

Loaded needle

In fact he has proved such a success that he even has his own e-mail address.

His owner, Mike Baxter, who is the managing director of a large firm, said: "He was on the operating table with the needle loaded.

Clapper shows off his party trick

"The nurse was just about to do the dreadful deed when Clapper sat up and clapped."

Mr Baxter adopted Clapper after falling in love with him at the Just for Dogs centre at Brailsford near Derby.

Now the pair go to work together everyday and Clapper has become official company dog as well as a big fundraiser for the dog charity.

Mr Baxter said: "We come in, we both have a cup of coffee.

"And then as managing director I run my business and Clapper, as chief fundraising officer for Just for Dogs, opens his e-mails, checks for correspondence.

"And he's raised �3,000 pounds for Just for Dogs in the last 18 months."