Bundaberg Pensioners Pull Together To Crowdfund Spud The Dog's Vet

[Boronia]

More good dog people

Go Spud!

http://www.abc.net.a...-attack/7628286

Bundaberg pensioners pull together to crowdfund Spud the dog's vet bills after attack

ABC Wide Bay

By

Ross Kay

and

Brad Marsellos

Posted about 3 hours ago

Photo: Spud is recovering well after the surgery. He has stiches in his shoulder and leg. (ABC Wide Bay: Brad Marsellos)

It was one of hardest decisions Steve Cox has ever had to make — could he afford to save the life of his best mate, Spud the dog?

Steve's only companion, Spud the jack russell terrier, had been mauled by two larger dogs at Bundaberg West.

He had large gashes on his shoulder and back leg, and the vet bills were piling up.

"Two dogs had pushed open the gate, the steel gate that they had in front of the house, and they had Spud. He was getting torn to pieces in their mouths," Mr Cox said.

"I raced over, grabbed him, threw him in the car and took him straight around to the hospital. They took care of him after that."

Mr Cox was faced with a vet bill totalling thousands of dollars, but as a pensioner he simply could not afford it.

But when he broke down at the thought of losing his little mate, a group of friends decided they would step out of their comfort zone and set up a crowdfunding campaign to help.

"Steve was so upset, we were all upset, poor little Spud," said Jan Cutmore, one of the pensioners responsible for setting up the campaign.

"He didn't have the money for it and it was so expensive, so we thought we would try and do something, and this was one way of trying to get some money together for himIt was one of hardest decisions Steve Cox has ever had to make — could he afford to save the life of his best mate, Spud the dog?

Steve's only companion, Spud the jack russell terrier, had been mauled by two larger dogs at Bundaberg West.

Audio: Steve Cox, and friends Joan and Jan, talk about the group effort to save Spud (ABC News)

He had large gashes on his shoulder and back leg, and the vet bills were piling up.

"Two dogs had pushed open the gate, the steel gate that they had in front of the house, and they had Spud. He was getting torn to pieces in their mouths," Mr Cox said.

"I raced over, grabbed him, threw him in the car and took him straight around to the hospital. They took care of him after that."

Mr Cox was faced with a vet bill totalling thousands of dollars, but as a pensioner he simply could not afford it.

But when he broke down at the thought of losing his little mate, a group of friends decided they would step out of their comfort zone and set up a crowdfunding campaign to help.

"Steve was so upset, we were all upset, poor little Spud," said Jan Cutmore, one of the pensioners responsible for setting up the campaign.

"He didn't have the money for it and it was so expensive, so we thought we would try and do something, and this was one way of trying to get some money together for him.

"It costs so much money, and we thought that's his best mate, that's all he's got."

Photo: Steve Cox says he would be lost without his best mate Spud. (ABC Wide Bay: Brad Marsellos)

Spud's road to recovery

After the attack Spud was taken to veterinarian Kate Schroeder's practice and was pieced back together with more than 800 stiches.

"He had two big incisions on him. The big one on his shoulder was about 20cm and it had damaged the tissue underneath the skin," Ms Schroeder said.

"The biggest risk with dog fight injuries, apart from the initial blood loss and shock, is infection. There are lots of bacteria in dogs' teeth.

"The next day after surgery Spud was much happier, but he stayed in a couple of days just to make sure he was okay. He was a pretty good little fella. He's a fighter."

Spud continues to recover from his injuries, and from reports posted on the Save the life of Spud campaign page, is doing very well.

"You wouldn't even know half the time that he's been hurt. He's running around, he's already caught a mouse," Mr Cox said.

"He's a bloody good ratter. I'd like a dollar for every one he's caught, then I wouldn't have had to worry about looking for money."

The gratitude Mr Cox has to the group of friends who set up the crowdfunding campaign is immense, as words fail him when he talks about what Spud means to him.

"I can't really thank them enough. I've appreciated everything they've done for me," he said, holding back tears.

"I've had Spud just on five years now. He's my life. It's just him and me really. I'd be lost without the little bugger."

Edited July 14, 2016 by Boronia

[Roova]

That's a lovely heart warming story (well most of it)! I wonder what happened to the two wandering dogs who caused all the damage and a probably oblivious owner?

It is becoming very very expensive to get anything done at the vet nowadays. There's nothing worse than having the life of your dog hanging on if you have thousands and thousands of spare dollars lying around.

Edited July 14, 2016 by Roova

[Two Best Dogs!]

:) What a lovely story, I'm glad Spud is getting better to keep his old man company.

[BarbedWire]

Lovely story. Thanks for sharing. It has saved what has been an awful day.

[Scottsmum]

Thanks for sharing.