PUPPY LOVE
Cancer survivor takes out £13k loan to save pet’s life
WHEN Suzie Sexton was diagnosed with cervical cancer eight years ago, her beloved pet Paddy gave her the courage she needed to slowly battle her way back to health.
So when the Yorkshire terrierpoodle cross needed lifesaving surgery after being hit by a car, the 53-year-old did not hesitate to return the favour.
She took out a £13,000 loan to afford the months of surgery needed to bring her 14-year-old pooch back from the brink.
The mother of three, from New Stevenston, Lanarkshire, is now looking forward to a Christmas celebration that seemed so unlikely only four months earlier.
She said: ‘He’s always been there for me. I’d have spent whatever it
‘I’d have spent whatever it took’
took. I do love Paddy and couldn’t imagine not giving him a chance.
‘He’s given me 14 years of unconditional love so it was the least I could do to give him this chance.’
The former bar worker, who has owned Paddy since birth and also owned his mother Penny, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2010 and had surgery the following year. That was followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Throughout her ordeal she credited Paddy with giving her the emotional support she required.
So when Paddy was hit by a reversing 4X4 in August after dashing across a car park during a shopping trip in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, the doting pet owner pulled out all the stops.
She already had pet insurance, but the policy only covered Paddy up to £1,000 of the £14,000 surgery to repair his broken leg and multiple internal injuries.
So the devoted dog owner turned to her local credit union and borrowed £13,000 to make up the difference. Reliving the incident, she said: ‘My friend ran across and shouted at me. I panicked, it was just horrible.
‘There was blood everywhere and his leg was all mangled. We scooped him up and took him to our local vets.’
Paddy was initially given treatment there and was then transferred to the Vets Now Hospital in Glasgow where he stayed for eight days of expert care and treatment. Having pulled through that first night, he faced a lengthy –and costly – recovery.
Vets Now surgical nurse Steven Murphy said: ‘On top of the three surgical procedures he needed, he’s had to endure multiple sedations and bandage changes.
‘But over the months he has shown what a brave dog he is.’