People have donated almost £7,000 for life saving treatment to help a poorly pooch in Sark.
Two-year-old Apollo has a congenital vascular ring anomaly, meaning he cannot eat properly, and will face a declining standard of life if the appropriate surgery, monitoring, and care is not made available.
His owner, Ethan Lalor, set up a JustGiving page a couple of weeks ago, with the hope he can save his furry friend.
It has an £8,000 target which has almost been reached already meaning the surgery can go ahead.
The funds have mostly come from small community donations, with hundreds of people helping to play a part in getting Apollo the treatment he needs.
The largest donation so far has been £250, but the vast majority are from sums of just £3-5, showcasing some incredible community support.
Mr Lalor said he is grateful for the support shown so far, and wants to extend his thanks to the people that are helping to make Apollo’s life saving surgery possible.
“I’m so unbelievably grateful for the support Apollo has received — it’s been nothing short of overwhelming, being this close to the £8,000 mark is incredible, and I want to give a heartfelt thank-you to every single person who has donated.
“Your generosity has genuinely changed Apollo’s life, and I can’t thank you enough. I’m also deeply grateful to everyone who has shared his story and helped spread the word.”
Mr Lalor has confirmed that the surgery will be going ahead in two weeks time.
“A huge thank-you as well to all of the vets involved in identifying the problem, and facilitating his surgery, which will be on the 9th of December.
“They weren’t able to operate sooner because Apollo developed pneumonia, which was caused by his condition, but he’s recovering well.”
The two-year-old Sark-born pup has made an impact on everyone he meets since his birth.
Mr Lalor said he’s already become a well known face in the island.
“Apollo is the definition of ‘Man’s Best Friend’, and thanks to the outpouring of support, a full recovery could now be possible,” he said.
“Thanks to all of you, you’ve given Apollo another chance at life, and we couldn’t have reached this point without the kindness and compassion of so many people and for that Apollo and myself will be eternally grateful!
“The wait for his surgery is very daunting, however I have every confidence Apollo will power through until then, he’s adapted so well to his new routine of eating his liquid diet that he gets himself up on his back ready to eat, as he needs to be fed in an upright position. It’s just more proof of what a smart amazing dog Apollo really is!”
You can find the fundraising page on JustGiving HERE.
