Dog’s fall may leave family with a £30,000 vet bill
AFAMILY is desperately trying to raise £30,000 to save their beloved pet after it was hurt on holiday in Wales.
Willow, a six-year-old Bearded Collie, suffered a “freak accident” which left her with dislocated paws and serious ligament damage needing reconstructive surgery.
Owner James Oswald said his family holiday in Dinas, Pembrokeshire, took a turn for the worse when Willow fell off a roof at their rented cottage and plunged 20ft onto the road below.
He immediately rushed out to find Willow in a “bad way” on Monday, August 10.
Mr Oswald said: “Instantly it was clear that Willow was not in a good way and had seriously damaged both of her front legs and jaw. Shocked and devastated, we picked her up and rushed her to the nearest vets in Fishguard.
“They diagnosed that she had dislocated both front paws and one had pierced her skin, but they managed to put them back in place. There was however serious ligament damage in both legs and she would need to see a specialist in Bristol and we were to take her straight there.”
The holiday was put on hold as the family, including Mr Oswald’s wife Suzie and young son Noah, made the three-and-a-half hour trip to Highcroft Referrals in Bristol.
The specialist there told them Willow needed emergency corrective surgery to implant new manmade tendons to replace the ruptured ones in both her leg and paw joints at a cost of £10,000.
Further surgery to rebuild the tendons might be needed if the tendons cannot be fixed and Willow’s ‘ankle’ joints need to be fused, which would cost £18,000 for both legs.
Vets are planning to reconstruct Willow’s ligaments using manmade 500lb twine and are flying in two specialist casts that can be moulded to her legs.
Willow is “full of energy” and a huge part of Mr Oswald and his family’s life. She is “best friends” with 10-year-old Noah. “They are practically inseparable,” Mr Oswald added.
Mr Oswald does not blame anyone for Willow’s fall, believing she somehow got onto the roof from the raised garden at the back of their holiday cottage. Vets told him it was extremely uncommon for a dog to dislocate and rupture tendons in both legs.
Describing her other injuries, Mr Oswald said: “She lost some teeth when she fell, but they think her jaw is OK but they will need to remove her remaining lower front teeth.
“We then have the additional rehabilitation and medication she will need for a substantial amount of time following any operation procedure they decide she needs. Unfortunately, it will take sixmonths plus for her to recover from, if she can recover at all.”
Mr Oswald said he was reluctantly asking for donations towards the eye-watering vets bills but that his “self-pride is less important at this time”.
He added: “We’ve been sensible and insured her since birth but unfortunately the emergency veterinary bills for the freak accident she’s had go far, far, far beyond the maximum claim on her insurance pay out.
“It goes without saying we’re doing what we can financially to support her treatment but the truth is we’ve been told it could range from £10,000 to as high as £30,000.
“Nothing prepares you for the bills you face when something like this accident happens. The insurance payout is dwarfed by the potential fees the veterinary consultant has estimated.”
The support so far had been “humbling” and the family are grateful for all the support shown by friends and fellow Bearded Collie owners.
“Since the accident it’s been a whirlwind of emotion for all of us and we were dreading having to break Noah’s heart by telling him potentially devastating news about his best friend,” said Mr Oswald.
Any money left over from Willow’s treatment will be donated to The Guide Dogs For The Blind and Bearded Collie Rescue.