Spaniel Given ‘Days To Live’ Is Saved By Whole Village Who Paid For Her Pacemaker
Springer spaniel Alice was given a grim prognosis when vets discovered only a third of her heart was working
A poorly spaniel facing just days to live has been saved after an entire village clubbed together to pay for his surgery.
Springer spaniel Alice was given a grim prognosis when vets discovered only a third of her heart was working.
Her devastated owners, Siouxie and Richard Nelson, were told the only option to save her was surgery to install a pacemaker – but it would set them back a hefty £3680 – more money than they had.
Nurse Siouxie, 26, set up an online appeal to help fund Alice’s operation, and within hours, word got round the village of Woodhouse Eaves, Leics, where the couple live – and friends, family and neighbours chipped in more than £2000 to help fund the surgery.
Now, three-year-old Alice is fighting fit – and has fully recovered from the operation.
Siouxie, said: ‘I didn’t even know dogs could have pacemakers. It was heart-breaking seeing Alice so unwell.
‘Without those generous donations she might not be here today and I can’t describe how much love and joy she brings to our lives.
‘It’s a small village so everyone knows Alice. She’s so friendly, so everyone wanted to help her when she heard she was ill.
‘We are eternally grateful to everyone who donated to save Alice’s life.’
Siouxie and husband Richard, a bricklayer, first took Alice to see vets when she started collapsing – and she was diagnosed with a third degree heart block.
She added: ‘The operation was a no-brainer for us, we would do anything for her.
‘Anyone who is a dog lover will understand how much they mean to you and are a member of your family.
‘We do keep money aside for vet bills but this amount in such a short space of time was unfortunately out of our reach, and we only had about half the amount it would cost saved up.
‘That’s when we set up our fundraising page and within hours we were left speechless by all of the donations pouring in.
‘We live in a small village and it was great to see so many people, including our family, friends and even strangers chipping in.
‘Even after the operation three months ago, people are still donating, and since then we’ve tried to give something back by donating once a month to other dog fundraising pages to help others who are going through a similar situation.’
Villagers donated just over £2,187, donated by 77 people towards the operation within a week of the page being set up.
Alice had surgery at the Vet Cardiorespiratory Centre, in Kenilworth, Warks.
Siouxie said: ‘Mike and his team in our opinion are extraordinary, to have developed such skills as to use human pacemakers in dogs and have the dedication and passion to pioneer such treatment is astounding.’
Laura Dickenson, a Referral Nurse from The Veterinary Cardiorespiratory Centre said: ‘Alice was a great patient.
‘Thankfully her surgery went well and we were pleased with her recovery.
‘Pacemaker surgery is really a very rewarding and enjoyable procedure for us as we have so many pets that have such an improved quality of life.
Source: Yahoo.co.uk
