I'm desperate for help... my paralysed dog needs life-saving help but the £6,000 vet bills will bankrupt me
“It’s important to get the surgery fast...”
A Blackpool woman is desperately appealing for help after her beloved dog was seriously injured in an accident, leaving her facing vet bills she simply cannot afford.
Clare Rawling has been left devastated after her four-year-old dachshund Mindy suffered a serious injury to her back, known as IVDD, which prevents dogs from using their hind legs and walking.
Mindy’s vet bills are estimated to cost a staggering £6,000, something which Clare says is simply not affordable. Speaking to the Gazette about Mindy’s condition, she said: “Before the accident she was a very happy, healthy, outgoing dog who loved going out for walks. “
Exactly how Mindy sustained her injury is still unknown to Clare, although she suspects that the dog may have fallen from their sofa or off a set of dog stairs used in the living room.
“It was really distressing, really upsetting, because Mindy was in pain. One minute she was fine, and the next her back legs had stopped working,” Clare explained.
“The seriousness of a dog’s IVDD condition is ranked using a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the worst possible grade of injury. Sadly, Mindy’s accident has left her at the very top of the scale. In order to have any chance of recovery, Mindy needs a series of veterinary procedures, including MRI scans, consultations and eventually, surgery.
“We did have insurance policies for all of our dogs but unfortunately circumstances changed, and we had to cut back on bills. At the moment she can’t talk by herself, she can’t go to the toilet by herself, she’s not sleeping properly, and if it wasn’t for medication then she’d be in extreme pain.
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Mindy is now confined to a cage in order to help protect her already fragile spine, and is only allowed out to use the toilet. “As cruel as it may seem, it’s the only way to stop her from doing further harm,” Clare added.
“It’s important to get the surgery fast, so we’ve set up a GoFundMe for friends and family, and their help has been amazing so far. We’ve also been reaching out to local businesses and companies, just trying to get the word out.
“Our financial circumstances mean that we just don’t have the money, so we need all the help we can get.”
Details of Mindy’s condition along with a donation page can be found here.