Alex White HeraldSun
DECEMBER 25, 201212:11AM
IT will be a very merry Christmas for Rocco the Pekinese after emergency spinal surgery which saved his life.
IT will be a very merry Christmas for Rocco the Pekinese after emergency spinal surgery which saved his life.
The two-year-old was rushed into surgery yesterday morning with a leading Victorian canine spinal surgeon at the Pet Emergency and Specialist Centre in Malvern after he ruptured a disc in his spine on Friday.
The difficult spinal surgery can cost up to $5000 which owners John and Deanna Ahlberg from Wallington could not afford.
The retired couple had to contemplate putting down their family pet only a day before Christmas.
But luckily the Pet Medical Crisis Fund stepped in with a Christmas present of $1000 and in the spirit of Christmas, the surgery to chipped in $1000 too.
Mr Ahlberg was over the moon Rocco could be saved and said it was the best Christmas present ever.
“Rocco would have been in big trouble if he didn’t have surgery, we are just so happy,’’ he said.
“It was an expensive operation and we are so thankful the surgeon who helped us out, it is a really nice Christmas present.
“And they are pretty confident he will walk again.’’
Pet Medical Crisis Fund chief executive officer Jennifer Hunt said it was great to help a pet in need so close to Christmas.
“The fact that it was Christmas and they may have had to put him down because the surgery was so expensive was heart breaking, so we did as much as we could.
“Rocco is such a sweet little dog and the family had only lost another Pekinese in June.
“Now he will get to celebrate another Christmas.’’
Rocco will spend Christmas Day in hospital but is expected to be able to go home on Boxing Day.
To donate to the crisis fund visit www.petmedicalcrisis.com.au
Originally published as Spinal surgery saves Rocco’s life
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