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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 3rd December 2012
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Human heart surgeons set to operate on young dog
Facebook campaign hoped to fund operation

A labrador with a rare heart malformation may undergo human heart surgery following a Facebook campaign to save his life.

Nine-month-old Lycka was referred to the Montsouris hospital - for humans - in Paris, after vet surgeons said the operation to repair his ruptured artery was too difficult.

Surgeons at the hospital agreed to perform the operation for free, in order to save the young dog from being put to sleep. However, the operating costs for specialist equipment still amount to €3,000 (£2,400).

Lycka's owner, Christian Collin, who adopted the dog when it was abandoned at three months old, is unable to afford the bill, so the French Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) said it would cover 70 per cent of the costs.

The SPA launched a Facebook campaign for the remaining money, which it is confident will be raised in time for Lycka's operation date, December 20.

Orianne Vatin, a spokesperson for SPA, said: "This operation is not usually done on animals. So surgeons for humans will operate Lycka… The only technique that can save him uses cutting-edge technology and so is very costly."

Donations can be made via Lycka's Facebook page.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.