North West miracle pets needed…

A tiny Fox terrier left at death’s door after a ferocious dog attack is among the first entrants into this year’s Pet Survivor competition, run by PDSA. The leading vet charity is searching for more miracle pets from the North West to enter.

PDSA is searching for the UK’s most incredible stories of pet survival for its unique award. The competition is open to any pet in the UK that has been treated for a life-threatening illness or injury in the past 12 months. Enter online at www.pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor

Trinny

Early contender Trinny, an 11-year-old Long-haired Fox terrier, was left fighting for her life after she was at the receiving end of a ferocious attacked a large dog earlier this year. Tiny Trinny was left in shock, with deep lacerations and horrific puncture wounds to her chest. She also suffered a shoulder injury so bad she was in danger of losing her front leg. She was rushed straight to Manchester PDSA Pet hospital, where vets weren’t sure if she would pull through.

Brave Trinny received intensive care from PDSA vet nurses, including multiple operations to mend her wounds, antibiotics, pain-relief and drip therapy. At first, she didn’t want to eat, so had to be hand fed to help her recovery. After over a week of intense nursing and wound care, Trinny started showing signs of recovery and she was finally able to go home.

Incredibly, after months of rehabilitation, she defied the odds, pulled through, and has made a full recovery. Her owners, Julie Keeling and Mark Aspray, have put her forward for the PDSA Pet Survivor awards to recognise her bravery, and thank the PDSA team who saved her life.

Previous Pet Survivor winners

Last year’s winner, Dexter, was crowned PDSA Pet Survivor of the Year 2018 after being shot through the mouth in a deliberate airgun attack. Surviving this shocking act of cruelty was a miracle in itself, but he was also left with a fractured jaw and a hole in the roof of his mouth, requiring months of treatment and recovery. Dexter was selected by a panel of judges to go through to a final public vote against three other pets, and was announced as the winner in December 2018.

PDSA Vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan said: “Dexter received the coveted title of Pet Survivor to recognise his incredible survival spirit, his owners’ dedication, and the skill and expertise of all the vets and vet nurses who helped to save his life. We’d like to hear from anyone whose pet has an extraordinary story of survival against all odds, or who has cheated death by a whisker.”

The winner of PDSA Pet Survivor 2019 will be decided by a public vote later in the year. They will receive a trophy, plus a luxury pet hamper worth £200, provided by this year’s sponsor Petsurance from PDSA.

Other previous winners include Darcy, a working Cocker Spaniel from Dundee, who fell down a 60ft dam, leaving her with a fractured pelvis, two broken legs and multiple other injuries. She won the award in 2016 after going through months of rehabilitation before she was able to fully recover. In 2015, the award was won by Staffie Ziggy, who miraculously survived being shot in the head with a crossbow.

The awards are open to any pet treated by a vet in the UK for a life-threatening illness or injury between 1 August 2018 and 31 August 2019. Pet owners wishing to nominate their pet can enter online at www.pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor. The closing date is Sunday 8 September 2019.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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