High Wycombe vet to help save life of abandoned dog that was thrown from a moving van

Bambi outside.

A kind hearted vet clinic in High Wycombe has offered to help save the life of an abused and abandoned dog.

Bambi, a 12 month old spaniel, was found in a ‘terrible’ condition after being thrown from a moving van.

The neglected pooch, who was malnourished, filthy and covered in sores, has since been moved to the care of the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) as on first arrival (see picture below) it looked like she had suffered a spinal injury from the fall.

Bambi on arrival.

Jackie de Friez, centre manager at the charity, explains: ‘Bambi came to us filthy, hugely underweight and she had sores all over her.

The memory of her mistreated and malnourished body is one that will haunt the staff for a long time. As dreadful as her general state was, it was not the thing concerning staff the most when they met Bambi.

When standing naturally, her back end curls under her hips and her back legs appeared to be buckling under the pressure. We call her the mermaid puppy because her back legs are so deformed they almost make the shape of a tail.

We thought she had suffered a spinal injury due to being thrown from a van and the emergency vet who had seen Bambi before she arrived in our care had initially advised euthanasia.

Thankfully there are rules around stray dogs, which state an owner must be allowed seven days to come forward and claim their dog. It was clear that Bambi was in a lot of pain and struggling to walk so we rushed her in to our vets for a second opinion.

Then we found out her condition was something she had lived with from birth. She has one of the worst cases of something called ‘lateral luxating patellae’ which means her back legs need to be operated on to free her of pain.‘

Michael Hamilton of Hamilton Specialist Referrals in Halifax Road, High Wycombe has agreed to help abandoned spaniel Bambi with a 50% discount on her surgery.

After this discount, the operation will cost the rescue and re-homing charity £5,500 and Bambi is awaiting her surgery date.

Alex Spurgeon, supporter relationship manage at the NAWT said: ‘This is an enormous expense for a charity like ours, where every single penny is accounted for. However, it’s an expense that will allow a beautiful natured little dog, who has been so harshly betrayed by humans in the past, the chance to live the life she deserves.‘

Without help from the NAWT Bambi’s condition will deteriorate and the lovely little dog, who is owed so much in human kindness, will be left in unbearable pain.

The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) is based in the south of England and operates re-homing centres in Hertfordshire, Essex, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Somerset and Cornwall.

NAWT is one of the UK’s largest animal welfare charities and runs a live blog of the rescue and re-homing process. To view this please visit www.nawt.org.uk/blog.

Anyone wishing to donate to help Bambi on her journey to becoming a happy and healthy dog can do so at https://www.nawt.org.uk/blog/help-bambi-live-pain-free.