It’s a dog in knee-d
Crowdfunder launched to perform operation on the lovable lab, Buster
A doting dog walker has launched a crowdfunding page to pay for new knees for a lovable Lab whose elderly owners and their disabled son can’t afford his hefty vet fees.
Janice Anderson, 65, and 75-yearold husband John – who provide round-the-clock care for their disabled son, Scott – watched dog Buster pile on the pounds because the couple became too ill and frail to exercise him.
Since Kirsten Griffiths - who runs Walkie’s dog walking service in Rutherglen and Cambuslang - stepped in two years ago, the previously timid Buster has become a more confident, content dog and has shed a stone-and-a-half in weight.
But when the eight-year-old chocolate Labrador was out walking with Kirsten three weeks ago, he stumbled, yelped in pain and began limping.
After whimpering all night with an inflamed leg, Kirsten took the distressed dog to the vet, where an X-ray revealed that Buster had vitually no cartilage in his back left knee and the bones were rubbing together.
Because his other back leg was compensating for the muscle wastage in the withered right leg, that knee too was becoming extremely weak.
John – who is partially sighted and struggles to walk after a stroke two years ago – said Buster cried in pain the night after the X-ray.
Wife Janice – who also suffers from ill health after being diagnosed with lung cancer eight years ago – spent the night on the couch to comfort her beloved pet.
Mats and foam mattresses are placed all around the family’s bungalow to prevent Buster from slipping on the laminate floors and causing further damage to his knees.
“It was pitiful to see,” said John, whose 28-year-old son, Scott, has cerebral palsy and autism, and uses a wheelchair.
“I don’t want to see him go through that again. He is a great dog with a good nature.
“I used to walk him two or three times a day, but I can’t do that anymore.
“Kirsten had to break the news to Janice that there was a date for the operation. She’s been dreading it.”
Kirsten immediately set up a gofundme appeal with a target of £2500 to pay for surgery on both knees and hydrotherapy for Buster after the operations.
A frantic Janice, of King’s Crescent, has paid £250 for Buster’s X-rays, and has borrowed cash from her brother and three sisters to pay for the £1200 cost of surgery on the most damaged knee.
Yesterday, Buster went under the knife at Taylor veterinary practice in Cathkin, where surgeons offered to reduce the bill for the operation by £200.
Because Janice won’t even brush Buster’s leg for fear of hurting him, Kirsten has again stepped in, this time to give the pooch physiotherapy treatments until he is strong enough to undergo the operation on his second leg.
Kirsten, whose clients immediately contributed £25 when she set up the appeal, said: “I love all the dogs I walk, but Buster is special.
“He’s a completely different boy than the one he was two years ago. The first time I took him out, I had to drag him.
“He has gone from being a scared wee shadow to an outgoing bundle of cheek and love. He brings a smile to my face every day.”
She added: “I will do whatever it takes to get him back up and well.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/ big busters-new-knees to donate.