A PET dog has been bitten by an adder for a second time.

Buzz the bull mastiff and rottweiler cross was out walking with owner Barry Foster when the adder - Britain's only venomous snake - struck.

The 11-and-a-half stone dog is now recovering at home in Crossways after receiving emer-gency treatment from vets.

But Mr Foster is warning people to be on the lookout for the creatures, especially if they are out walking over the Easter weekend.

"Buzz was bitten by an adder three years ago and I have always been careful to check for them when we are out walking because I know where they tend to be.

"I had been walking ahead of Buzz but then I let him go in front of me and the next thing I saw was his head whipping around and I thought, he's been bitten."

Mr Foster rushed Buzz to the vets where he underwent emergency treatment. He is now recovering well, but he is swollen from the bite.

Mr Foster said: "The adder must have been emerging from hibernation. We are always so careful when out walking. He is very unlucky to have been bitten twice.

"I would urge people to be on the lookout for adders and be careful when they are out and about this weekend."

Adders live on heathland, like those found around Dorset.

It is very rare to see an adder but at this time of year they are often emerging from hibernation and come out to open spaces to warm up in the spring sunshine.

They rarely bite but when they do it is often dogs because they do not know when to leave something alone.

Adders have a distinctive zigzag pattern and sometimes they are all black.

But most of the time when people see a snake it is a grass snake.

Adders and Britain's other snakes are protected by law and people who do see them are urged to leave well alone.