A devoted dog-owner is desperately raising funds to pay for an operation for her poorly puppy, who she rescued from an abusive ex-partner.
Emma Loveridge, 35, of Leagrave High Street in Luton, has looked after Maverick for the past few months.
He was recently diagnosed with Wobbler’s Syndrome – a malformation of the spine which could have been caused by poor nourishment or abuse, and Emma needs to raise £7,000 to pay for treatment otherwise he will eventually become paralysed.
Mother-of-one Emma said: “I could cope with what my ex-partner was doing to me, but I couldn’t cope with what he was doing to the dog. He would hit him, leave him for hours without water - I rang the RSPCA repeatedly but they wouldn’t do anything.
“When I left my ex I went to get my stuff from his house and he threw Maverick out the door. Before I knew what was happening I’d locked us in my car and was on my way to the vet with him. My mum didn’t want him in the house, so for a while I slept with him in my car on the drive or on friends’ floors.”
The 14-month-old Dogue De Bordeaux/ Rhodesian Ridgeback cross was underweight, had chronic diarrhoea, e-coli and worms when Emma rescued him.
She was told he would fully recover but a few weeks ago he collapsed and was diagnosed with Wobbler’s Syndrome – which the pet insurance company won’t pay for as they say it was an existing condition.
Now Maverick is confined to Emma’s mum’s hallway, and if he doesn’t have his operation soon he will eventually become paralysed.
Emma said: “I love him with all my heart. He’s part of the family, my son and I love him with everything we have got. I haven’t come this far to give up now.
“He is a lot happier than he was, but because of his condition he can’t be walked and that is making him a bit miserable. He used to come with me everywhere and I really miss having him by my side. He can’t play or be a normal puppy.”
To raise the money for the operation, Emma is DJing for half-price, her friend Jasmine Watson is doing a 5k run this weekend, and they’ve organised a car wash in bikinis in a few weeks’ time.
Emma said: “Thank you to everyone who has helped us so far.”
Visit http://fundapetmiracle.com/projects/maverick-wobblers-op1/526 to donate or find out more.