Scarborough rallies round to raise funds for emergency operation for French Bulldog Buster

She rushed him to the vet and was told that Buster may have nerve damage. Jo said: “He couldn’t walk properly. It was touch and go, he was a really poorly dog. He lost the use of his right leg, initially we thought he might recover at home, but he got worse.”

Jo knew that the cost of surgery was going to be expensive, but couldn’t bear to face the alternative.

She phoned a number of vets before finding Franks in Leeds. She described Buster’s symptoms to them and they asked her to take Buster through, believing something was pressing on his spinal cord.

A CT scan was arranged and it showed that one of the discs in his neck had exploded and fragments had lodged into his spinal cord.

Buster needed urgent treatment and it was going to cost £4,500.

Jo did not know how she would find the money, but vowed to as three-year-old buster has a special bond with her daughter Darcie, 13, who is autistic.

Jo said: “Buster was the runt of the litter, we originally intended to bring home a girl, but when we arrived at the breeders he ran straight to Darcie and sat on her lap, he just didn’t move. He is her rock, she doesn’t sleep properly without him.”

Jo, who lives in the Sandybed area, said she has been blown away by the support she has received for Buster’s treatment so far.

Between them, friends and family have raised over £3,000 or the £4,500 needed.

Further fundraising is planned for Friday August 21 at The Commercial on Falsgrave Road. Jo said: “We are still selling tickets at The Commercial or through myself.

“The prizes are building up there’s over 20 so far and people keep adding more, they include meals out, lots of bottles and even barrels of beer, beauty and hair vouchers, holiday vouchers, a pet portrait, personal training voucher, T-Shirts from Year Dot Clothing, 2 x £100 tattoo vouchers from Bonded by Ink and a £100 voucher for Savage a Cabbage.”

On Saturday August 22 former Scarborough News Salt of the Earth, Derek Bratton, will be having his head shaved and The Crown Tavern will be holding their own raffle to win £50 of beer.

Derek said he saw Buster’s plight online and just knew he had to do something, despite only being released from hospital last weekend after suffering a heart attack.

Donations on Derek’s page have totalled almost £300: “I wasn’t really bothered about my hair because it grows so quickly anyway!”

Claire at Forget-Me-Not flowers on Victoria Road has made yellow and white “Bows for Buster” - which she’s selling for a minimum donation of £2 and is also holding a raffle where the first prize is a three month supply of flowers

Claire from the Rose Garden and Michelle from Flowers of Distinction are also selling “Bows for Buster”.

Jo said: “I want to say a massive thank you to Kay at the Commercial and to Matthew at Swanzdale Vets who have been beyond helpful.”

“I’d also like to say a big heartfelt thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone that’s helped, not just to those who have donated but also to those who have liked and shared the post.”

Unable to wait any longer, Buster had his operation on Monday August 18. He has a 90% chance of a full recovery and initial signs are good that basic movement is returning. Jo is hopeful he can come home soon.

If people would like to buy raffle tickets they can contact Jo by emailing [email protected] or if you would like to donate, the GoFundMe page can be found hereA Message from our Editor

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