In 2017, a few days before Christmas, our Collie x Pointer, Baz, suffered a near fatal accident while in our local woods. A fallen branch had punctured his chest and right lung. He was in a lot of distress, unable to breathe and unable to move for the shock. We carried him to the vets where he stayed for a week over Christmas, suffering a severe pneumothorax. His extensive treatment involved daily chest drains, strong antibiotics, opiate painkillers and several operations within his chest.

It was the vet’s and our opinion that to have him euthanised would have been unethical given his fighting attitude and our hopes for a recovery. Throughout Christmas, Baz was in a lot of pain and so traumatised that he was unable to properly greet us on our visits, leave his kennel to go to the toilet or to eat anything.

Gradually, by Boxing Day, he had his first meal and began to slowly turn a corner. We took him home a few days before the New Year and, since then, he has made a full recovery.

The care he received at our vets was beyond amazing and by the time we took him home I think every vet and nurse had spent a shift with him so he became slightly infamous there.

Such invasive and prolonged treatment naturally incurs a large vet bill that, although unavoidable, was of major concern for us. Our vet put us in touch with the Happy Breed Foundation charity and we explained to them our situation and they were beyond helpful in agreeing to pay half our bill. It is absolutely no exaggeration to say that they were a life saver when we most needed it. They allowed us to keep our beloved Baz for several more years and, for that, we can never explain how grateful we are.

Baz

Baz and friend